JIMMY MELROSE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18546, 5 November 1934, Page 5

JIMMY MELROSE

YOUNG AVIATOR’S FEAT AI'STRAEI A-I’.K. 201 nor US LONDON, October 2. i \ Mr. .James Meltose. aged 20 yours, li months’’ flying experience, imperturbable r tireless, skilful pilot and fine navigator, ■ takes bis place among! the world’s great ] long distance aviators. He arrived at Orovtloii aerodrome- early in the morning 1 four days ago, piloting his l’uss Aloti; monoplane to a perfect landing eight 1 days nine hours alter leaving hut Darwin, Australia, surpassing the pro- \ ions lastest journey over !ne i nine* achieved hv Messrs, Bernard Hubin and Ken Waller a few weeks ago--by three hours and .Mr. ,1. A. Molnson’s ollieial record by no fewer than io hours. [

it was bis second important Jliglit. Last month he tested the endurance ol himself and of his machine by Jiving round the const of Australia, more than 8000 miles in length, in the new lecord time of live days 11 hours. On that journey he averaged 1250 miles’ Hying in every 24 hours. His average on the longer and more difficult flight to England was about 12C0 miles a day. Ear from being exhausted, this amazing young man actually reserved his longest spell in the air for the last full day of his journey, covering 1100 miles between Cyprus and Lyons before stopping for a brief rest. The next morning lie was away long before dawn and soon after 7 o’clock lie landed at Croydon, where he staggered a customs ollieial by announcing, in reply to the usual question. that lie had just, arrived from Australia.

The young aviator’s achievement and his •’nnaiVected modesty have most favorably impressed English livers. lie is likely to pilot a Leopard Moth monoplane in the England-Australia races this month : though his machine will he ton slow to compete with the faster of the “speed" entrants Ids' recent achievements must rank him a formidable competitor in the handicap event. 11 <* will carry many good wishes. The writer cannot recall any aviator since Colonel Lindbergh who has so rapidly made his way into the good graces of English flying men. Actually, lie is not unlike the great Swedish-American aviator, lie, too, is tall, slender, extremely fair, smiling and quiet of manner. That he will prove an equally great flyer is hv no means imnrchahle. Colonel Lindbergh was 25 when he Hew the Atlantic in 1927. ami became world-famous. Mr. Melrose, with five years in hand, may well eclipse his forerunner’s achievemc ills.

FEAT OE XAVICATION I!.' disclaimed adventures along the route, lie had ilist kept. on. he said. He “found plnres just about where 1 calculated them to be”—a magnificent understatement of very fine navigation. The only “incident” of the journey was to find Alor Star aerodrome, Malay States.’ under about 2it. of water. "It was like a flying boat landing." lie commented. “1 had the cabin windows open hud the wider splashed in.” For Hie rest the flight, was comfortable. Air travel is obviously not- expensive, apart from the | urche.se of fuel and oil. which Mr. Melrose estimates to have cost- him not quite £IOO. He left Darwin with 10 Cl notes in his pocket and still had three of them left when lie landed at Crovdon.