FLIGHTS TO AUSTRALIA

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 45, 19 September 1930, Page 8

FLIGHTS TO AUSTRALIA

MANY ASPIRANTS. KINGSFORD SMITH DOUBTFUL. LONDON, Sept. 9. If all the reported projects to lower Mr. Bert Hinkier's record materialise there Is likely to be a string of aeroplanes between England and Australia in the near future. The latest addition to the list of aspirants, which is estimated at between five and seven,_ is Mr. A. S. Butler, director of de Havilland's and runner-up in the last King's Cup race. , , Captain Matthews' outward stages will be to Sofia, then Bagdad, Calcutta, Singapore, the Island' of Flores, and Darwin, thus reaching Australia in six days. After resting a day in Darwin Captain Matthews proposes to return in six days. He has been a pilot at Stag Lane aerodrome for nine years, and an instructor with the London Aeroplane Club for four years. Pilots are keeping their plans a close secret. Mrs. Barnard states that she did not know that her husband, Captain Barnard, who was the Duchess of Bedford's pilot to Capetown and back, and who recently flew non-stop from London to Malta and back in two days, intended to compete until a day or two ago. Mr. Hinkler is reported to be still working on a plane in contemplation 6f the same flight. The%Tews Chronicle states that Major Pickthorne and Murray will fly to Australia together, while the other airmen who contemplate the trip will go solo. The competitors, who are all fc> pay treir own expenses, suggest that a prize should be offered for what will be one of the greatest air races ever planned. An official of the de Havilland Company states that the Moth factory has been engaged for some weeks constructing long-range high-speed planes for private fliers, who wish to try to break records. He added that it was by no means certain that all these pilots would make Australia their ultimate goal. Captain Matthews is reported to be planning an extension of his Australian flight to "eclipse anything ever accomplished by air." It is understood that Wing-Commander Kingsford Smith now intends to go by steamer to Australia. He told a representative of the News Chronicle that he must be regarded as a doubtful starter in the air race. Unless his doctor changed his mind during the next week or two he would ship his plane to Australia. "The latest weather reports of the Air Ministry caused me to decide to cut out the Australian part of my round-world flight" Mrs. Victor Bruce stated to-day. "I hope to attempt to break Mr. Hinkier's record later."