AVIATION

Otago Witness, Issue 3523, 20 September 1921, Page 21

AVIATION

SOCK BURN TO WELLINGTON. A HIGHLY SATISFACTORY FLIGHT. WELLINGTON, September 12. An Avro flying machine, which reached Wellington this afternoon from Christchurch, is owned by the Canterbury Aviation Company. The machine left Sockburn aerodrome, and as it proceeded the sun reflecting oil the .sea proved very hard on the pilot’s eyes. Passing over Waipaia. at 7.50 a.m., the machine went out seawards, and flew up tho coast, and Kaikoura (■l4O miles) was icached at 8.55 a.m. landing was made, there, and after the pilot and a passenger had morning tea lile machine resumed its flight at 9.48 a.m. it arrived at Blenheim (97 miles from Kaikoura) at 10.45 a.m., and left at 11.30 a.m., rising to a height of 85G0ft to cross the strait. Tile actual time siient in crossing Cook Strait was 26 minutes -the fastest on record. After parsing Gape Terawhiti, the Avro circled over Wellington for some minutes, and then proceeded to the Lower Hutt, Park.. where a landing was made. J he total distance of 270 miles was covered in 3hr 15min actual flying rime. The consumption of petrol was low—only lOgal. The machine, which was making her maiden trip, is fitted with a Le Rhone engine. Captain Douglas Gray was pilot, Mr J. E. Cruse mechanic, and Air 11. J. Wilson observer. September 16 The New Zealand Aero Transport Company’s Avro machine, in charge of Captain Cuthbert. Mercer, arrived from the South Island last evening after a smart passage across the Strait. The aeroplane is fitted with the lowest-powered engine of any machine which has flown across Cook Strait, and is the first to have lauded within the confines of Wellington city.