AVIATION

Otago Witness, Issue 4057, 15 December 1931, Page 27

AVIATION

MR HINKLER’S FLIGHT AN OFFICIAL WELCOME. RUGBY, December 7. Mr Hinkler had a great reception at Hendon from a large crowd, which in- ■ eluded the Under-secretary for Air (Sir 5 Rhrlip Sassoon), who welcomed him officially on behalf of the Government, Sir Arthur Brown, who, with Sir John Al- ’’ cock, was the first to fly the Atlantic, .J. Flight-lieutenant Stainforth, holder of the world’s speed record, Miss Peggy Salaman, who, with Mr Gordon Store, recently beat the London to Cape record in a British machine of the same type as that used by Mr Hinkler, Miss Winifred Spooner and other leading British airmen and airwomen. The first to greet Mr Hinkler was his wife. He received a telegram containing congratulations from the Prime Minister, . who said that the flight would rank as . one of the most remarkable achieve- ... ments in the history of aviation, and as a magnificent demonstration of the sterling qualities of British aircraft engines. AERO CLUB’S GOLD MEDAL. LONDON, December 9. The guests at the Aero Club’s dinner in celebration of the Schneider Trophy victory included Mr Bert Hinkler. Each member jof the team received a silver salver. The Duke of Atholl said he foresaw the time when women would fly from Eng- , land to Australia newly Eton cropped it and return in a week with their hair in the same smart condition. Colonel Moore-Brabazon announced v that the club was bestowing on Mr Hinkler its gold medal, the highest ... honour in its power. Mr Hinkler, who was enthusiastically >. received, said it would be a pity to let his plane rust in its hangar. There were some parts of the world he wanted to . see, including South America. “ I had the right tools, so one fine Monday afternoon the Gipsy started its reliable note, which by its constancy gradually landed me here.” THE KING’S CONGRATULATIONS. RUGBY, December 10. The King sent a message of congratu- .. . lations to Mr Hinkler on his successful flight across the South Atlantic. • ; . THE SOUTHERN STAR ■ THE COMMERCIAL RECORD. LONDON, December 13. ' Kingsford Smith arrived at Lyons at 12.55. He resumes to-morrow morning, j : He can still beat the commercial record. A RETURN AIR MAIL. LEAVING ON DECEMBER 18. . ’ LONDON, December 11. The air mail to Australia will leave on December 18. It is due at Alor . Star on Christmas Day, Brisbane on December 31, and Sydney and Melbourne on January 1. The charge on mail matter is Is 4d a half ounce to Australia and New Zealand. COMMERCIAL AIRSHIPS PROVED TO BE PRACTICABLE. LONDON, December 8. Dr Eckener, who is visiting the Howden and Cardington airship sheds, will approach the Government with a view to an arrangement for taking over the sheds and building airships for transatlantic voyages. He pointed out that the Graf Zeppelin had made 350 voyages and demonstrated the practicability of commercial airship services between Europe and America.

REGULAR SERVICE PROPOSED. LONDON, December 9. Dr Eckener proposes to run a regular service between London and New York. He will build airships 800 feet long, and the lengthening of the Howden hangar has already been begun. Negotiations are proceeding for the purchase of property. MUCH INTEREST AROUSED. RUGBY, December 10. Much interest has been aroused in the visit to England of Dr Eckener, who, after visits to the Howden and Cardington airship sheds, in company with Colonel Deeds, representing American airship and financial interests, and Colonel the Master of Sempill, the wellknown English airman. He had an interview with the Marquess of Londonderry (Secretary for Air), the discussion being of a general character, in which the desirability of co-operation between Britain, Germany, and America was stressed. In an interview with the press; Dr Eckener said that he had also seen the Foreign Secretary in regard to his scheme, which is still in the embryonic stage. DR ECKENER IN LONDON. LONDON, December 10. Dr Eckener interviewed Sir John Simon, the Marquess of Londonderry, and British air experts, and discussed with them his transatlantic airship service project.

THE NON-STOP RECORD A BRITISH ATTEMPT. RUGBY, December 9. Preparations are in train for the departure from Cranwell aerodrome on December 22 of Squadron-leader Gayford and Flight-lieutenant Bett in an attempt to set a new world record for the distance flown non-stop by an aeroplane in a straight line. The present record is held by two American airmen, who flew 5012 miles froiif New York to Constantinople. The British attempt will be made in a Fahey long-range monoplane equipped V with a 330 h.p. Napier Lion engine. The monoplane recently made a trial, flight to Egypt. The destination will be Capetown, and the route will be via Marseilles, Tunis, Sahara, Nigeria, Portuguese West Africa, and VValfish Bay. The distance by this route to Capetown is 5990 miles. The record will, however, be beaten if the airmen reach a point 100 miles south of the Cunene River, in South-West Africa. The plane carries nearly four tons of fuel, and is fitted with an automatic pilot to relieve the airmen at the controls for some hours, at a time. MEDITERRANEAN DISASTER FRENCH FLYERS DROWNED. ALGIERS, December 12. An empty rubber boat which was washed ashore has been identified as part

of the equipment of the French AlgiersMarseilles mail plane, which was brought down in the Mediterranean by engine trouble on. December 9. The crew wirelessed stating that they had, as a precaution, ripped the canvas off the wings to prevent the destruction of the plane in the rough sea. This was their last word. Ropes attached to the boat indicated that they had tied themselves in, but the storm must have washed them out. ENGLAND TO NEW ZEALAND COMPLETE FLIGHT PROJECTED. WELLINGTON, December 8. The long flight from England to New Zealand which has never been made as a single complete effort is to be attempted by a New Zealander, Flyingofficer Alan Binley, R.A.F., who is at present on furlough in New Zealand. Flying-officer Binley, who spent his early years at Blenheim and Wanganui, is stationed with No. 14 Bombing Squadron, R.A.F., in Transjordan. He arrived by the Marama to-day. THE TRANSTASMAN FLIGHT SYDNEY TO NINETY MILE BEACH. AUCKLAND, December 10. On the day before “ Wizard ” Smith attempts to break the land speed record on Ninety Mile Beach a tranS-Tasman

flight from Sydney to the beach will be attempted. The type of plane is being kept secret, but Mr Don Harkness, the designer of Smith’s car, said to-day that the plane has an engine designed and built by him. It will carry two pilots, and the proposal is to follow Kingsford Smith’s rouje to Wellington, and then fly up the coast to the beach, and back to Auckland. . The plane has a range of 22 hours. It is expected that its average speed will be over 100 miles an hour, and that it will make the trip in 12 hours. PLANE UNDER CONSTRUCTION. SYDNEY, December 11. Regarding the transtasman aeroplane flight, which is to precede .“ Wizard ” Smith’s attempt on the land speed record, it is ascertained that the chief pilot will be L. R. Jones, of Ryde, a suburb of Sydney, who was a war-time aviator. His steel monoplane is now under construction, and will be equipped with a Harkness Hornet motor. He expects that the flight will be undertaken about the middle of January.