Back Again

Southland Times, Issue 21607, 20 January 1932, Page 5

Back Again

Kingsford Smith Perfect Landing at Darwin Transport of Mails (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) (Rec 11.5 p.m.) Darwin, January 19. Completing a successful flight to England and back with mails, Air-Commodore Kingsford Smith arrived in the Southern Star at 1.46 this afternoon (local time), lie started from Koepang yesterday, but had to return owing to bad weather. He left again at 7.50 this morning. Kingsford Smith made a perfect landing in perfect weather. He said Koepang was fearfully muddy and the grass very long. It needed 200 natives to pull the plane out of the mud before it could move. He was bitterly disappointed at turning back yesterday, but feared landing at Darwin in the dark. He lightened the plane and discarded everything not absolutely necessary. He even shaved to have less weight, and also earned the minimum petrol. Crossing the Timor Sea to-day he passed over the steamer Marella and saluted her. He was glad to get back to Australia again, and so were his crew. Kingsford Smith received a message from the Civil Aviation authorities congratulating him on his safe transport of the mails both ways. The total weight of the mails he is bringing is 7131 b. He expects the trip to show a slight profit. When questioned about rumours in Sydney that he would possibly be a candidate for the East Sydney Federal seat, Kingsford Smith replied that he had no intention of entering the political arena. He said he would attend Signor Mussolini’s conference of air aces if he happened to be in Rome in May. Kingsford Smith’s flight was made in the following stages: —- Jan. 7.—Left Hamble. Arrived at Marignane (France). Jan. S. —Arrived at Rome. Jan. 9. —Arrived at Athens. Jan. 10—Arrived at Aleppo. Jan. 12.—Passed over Karachi. Jan. 13.—Arrived at Calcutta. Jan. 14. —Arrived at Bangkok. Jan. 15. —Arrived at Singapore. Jan. 16. —Arrived at Batavia. Jan. 17. —Arrived at Koepang. Jan. IS. —Departed for Darwin, but turned back owing to bad weather. Jan. 19. —Arrived at Darwin. IMPERIAL AIRWAYS PROPOSED AUSTRALIAN SERVICE.. Sydney, January 19'. Sir Walter Nicholson, a director of Imperial Airways, is visiting Australia in connection with the proposal to allow Imperial Airways to continue its London-India air service to Australia. He said he intended to ascertain whether the Commonwealth Government would provide a subsidy without which the Karachi-Australia link would be impossible. He is returning to England later through New Zealand.