AVIATION

Otago Witness, Issue 3860, 6 March 1928, Page 31

AVIATION

CROYDON TO BUNDABERG. BRISBANE, February 28. Mr Hinkler, interviewed at Bundaberg, said that the flight to Australia cost him £55 approximately. It was difficult to work out the exact cost, because the price of petrol varied from Is 6d a gallon in Britain to 3s 6d at Basra. He did 25 miles to the gallon, and used 450ga1. He used very little oil. February 28. In answer to a question in the House of Commons, Sir Samuel Hoare (Air Minister) stated: “I cannot at present add much to the information given by the press regarding Mr Hinkler’s outstanding achievement, which I am glad to see has been given the prominence it undoubtedly deserves.” Sir Samuel Hoare detailed the records broken, and said that Mr Hinkler’s total flying time was 134 hours ; therefore, if the flight had been continuous day and night, it would have occupied only 5 days 14hr. Taking the whole time spent in flight, including night and day halts, the distance worked out at 30 miles hourly. Taking the time, the actual flying speed averaged 89 miles hourly. The fact that 12,000 miles had been covered without re- { fairs was a striking testimony to the reiability of the machine and the engine. One of the most striking features of the flight was that the machine used was a standard Avro-Avian, with a Cirrus engine, which had been in use since 1926. The only alteration before the flight was the incorporation of extra tankage. A machine of this type, complete, apart from extra tanks, cost £730 sterling, and approximately Mr Hinkler’s consumption of petrol and oil cost only £5O. These figures were a striking indication of the great potentialities of aircraft for communication between the vast stretches of the Empire over which other means of communication were either non-existent or relatively undeveloped. The Czecho-Slovakian sculptor Otakar Steinberger, desiring to commemorate the Australian national hero, has decided to make a bronze bust of Mr Hinkler, which he is asking the Royal Aero Club to hand to Mr Hinkler.

CANBERRA, February 28. Mr Bruce, the Prime Minister of Australia, has cabled to Sir Charles Wakefield accepting, on behalf of the Government and the people of Australia, his offer of an Avro-Avian ’plane, adding: “ Nothing could more fitly mark the great achievement of Mr Hinkler. I feel sure that your gift will be an inspiration to the development of aviation in Austra lia.”

NON-STOP FLIGHT COMPLETED. NEW YORK. February 27. A. message from Panama states that the dirigible Los Angeles completed a nonstop flight of more than 2200 miles from Lakhurst, New Jersey. FLYING CLUBS IN CANADA. RUGBY, February 28. The Canadian Government is extending its scheme for the establishment of flying clubs in the dominion. Forty De Haviland Moth light aeroplanes have already been delivered from England or are on order for the Governemnt and private enterprise in Canada, and the Canadian Govenment has ordered another 20 machines for new flying clubs. AIRWORTHINESS OF MACHINES. RUGBY, February 28. The first issue of the new Aircraft International Register, which will be to commercial aircraft what Lloyd’s is to shipping, has now been published. Its interest extends to something more than a mere register, for its organisers are preparing to take over from the Air Ministry the inspection of all privately- - owned British aircraft for the renewal of their airworthiness certificates. A system comparable with that ■which pertains to shipping is aimed at. The Board of Trade exercises a strict survey over certain classes of ships, and especially passenger vessels and the classification in Lloyd’s Register forms in the main the basis of insurance rates. If the present plans materialise the Air Ministry Airworthiness Depatment, as before, will be responsible for each aircraft when issued from the factory, but the Aircraft Register will be responsible for seeing it is maintained in accordance with the Government regulations. It is pointed out that such a scheme I- will provide advantages from an insur- * ance viewpoint similar to those provided by Lloyd’s Register. WELL-KNOWN AVIATOR DROWNED. ST. JOHN (New Brunswick), Feb. 28. Major G. C. O. Usborne was drowned here yesterday, when he fell from the steamer Montnairn when entering the harbour. Major Usborne last summer planned a flight from Vancouver to Australia, but abandoned it when the ’plane . was found unsuitable. PARIS TO SOUTH AMERICA.' PARIS, February 29. A regular air mail service between Paris and South America is being - inaugurated on Friday, when a ’plane starts from Paris. It is expected that 9000 miles will be covered in 10 days, just half the time of the present service. Aerial lighthouses will shortly be installed to permit of night travelling. By autumn it is hoped that the journey will be done in seven days, and later in four days. The route is via Toulouse, Casablanca, tjjenegal, and Cape Verde, whence the mails will be taken by a despatch boat to Brazil, thence by aeroplane to Buenos Aires. There

will be a surcharge of for a 5-gramme letter to Brazil and of 9fr to other countries.

COLONEL LINDBERGH. NEW YORK, March 1. The Woodrow Wilson Foundation has announced that its peace prize, consisting of a medal and 25,000d01, will be awarded to Colonel. Lindbergh for his flight in the cause of international friendship. TOUR OF FLYING BOATS. RUGBY, March 1. Sir Samuel Hoare (Secretary for Air) has sent the following telegram to Groupcaptain Cave-Browne-Cave I officer commanding the four supermarine Southampton flying boats, which have just reached Singapore on their cruise to the Far East:—“l warmly congratulate you and all under your command on the highly successful completion of th e first 11,000mile stage of your, flight. The punctuality with which you have adhered to your time-table reflects the greatest credit on all concerned, and demonstrates convincingly the imporant role which the flying boat can fulfil in the Empire, both for defence purposes in time of war and in developing air communications in time of peace.”

AIR SPEED RECORD. RUGBY. March 1. Au attempt to establsh a new air speed record with a supermarine Napier S 5 seaplane will probably be made by Flight Lieutenant Kinkead at the end of next week. The machine is now being assembled at Calsbot. Southampton, and will afterwards undergo testing. It is anticipated that oyer 310 miles hourly will be attained.

AIR DEFENCE OF AUSTRALIA. RUGBY, March 1. The Air Ministry announces that a request has recently been received from his Majesty’s Government in the Commonwealth of Australia for the loan of the services of a senior officer of the Royal Air Force to advise them on the air defence of the Commonwealth and on the organisation, training, and equipment of the Royal Australian Air Force. Arrangements have accordingly been made for Air Marshal Sir John Salmond. Air Office Commander-in-chief of Great Britain, to visit Australia this summer. He is expected to arrive in Australia about the middle of June, and will stav there about three months. LOST AMERICAN AIRMEN. OTTAWA, March 2. A Winnipeg message states that Flying Officer Lewis and Flight-sergeant Terry, of the Federal Government Northern Air Patrol, who have been lost in the wilds of the Arctic Circle since February 17, are reported safe at lort Barwell, Hudson Straits. ACCIDENT AT ISLE OF GRAIN. RUGBY, March 2. In an accident to-day at the Isle of Grain to a Fairey 3F machine, the pilot, Sergeant Maltman, and two passengers were killed. ENGLAND TO AUSTRALIA. LONDON, March 2. Discussing Mr Hinkler’s flight in a lecture at the University of Leeds, Sir Sefton Branckcr (Director of Civil Aviation) said that when night flying was made possible and better aircraft available, he believed that the journey to Australia would be reduced to 179 hours, perhaps within five years. ANOTHER FATAL CRASH. LONDON, March 2. . An Air Force bombing ’plane piloted by a flight-sergeant and two mechanics nose-dived 2000 ft in the marshes at Sheerness. All were killed instantly.

LINDBERGH DECLINES HONOURS. WASHINGTON, March 3 Lindbergh, through his counsel, sent a message to Congress, wher e several Bills are pending to extend him public honours, expressing the hope that the Legislature will take no ‘action such as to strike special medals or use public moneys for such contemplated projects a s the purchase of his homestead in Minnesota for conversion into a museum or the extension of 500,000d0l to him for the development of aviation. Lindbergh expressed appreciation of the generous motives, but expressed his sentiment against proposals that “ insure in any way his personal benefit.”