MASE UNDISMAYED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 655, 6 May 1929, Page 9

MASE UNDISMAYED

WANTS MONEY TO REPAIR AIRPLANE FLIGHT TO NEW ZEALAND (United Service) LONDON, Saturday. Mr. Frank Mase, of Auckland, New Zealand, who recently crashed at Roanne, France, on the first stage of his attempted flight to Australia, has arrived back in London. Apart from a discoloration of one eye he is none the worse for his mishap. Referring to the crash, Mr. Mase said his machine was going beautifully, dead on her course, when the petrol in one tank became exhausted over Roanne. He changed over to the second tank, but evidently the pipe was blocked and the petrol did not flow. He landed successfully on a small farm, where he was hospitably entertained by the farmer and his wife. He was most refreshed by some hot coffee they gave him after he had been flying hours in very cold air. Mr. Mase then filled and tested both his tanks and took off again. He reached an altitude of 40ft or 50ft. The petrol flow suddenly stopped again. The machine struck a low tree and turned a somersault. ANXIOUS TO RESUME The airman said he was grateful to the French Air Force authorities, who sent a sergeant and four men with a truck 80 miles to assist him to dismantle and pack his machine. They were most interested in his flight, and hop.ed it would be possible for him to continue it. Mr. Mase is most anxious to resume his flight, and is confident that with reasonable luck he could complete it successfully. He says his machine, the All Black, could be rebuilt for £SOO at the most. Unfortunately, his own capital is exhausted, and he says he will not be able to continue the flight unless some Australian or New Zealand sportsman interested in aviation will help him. The airman called on the High Commissioner for New Zealand, Sir James Parr, who expressed the hope that it would be possible for him to complete the first flight from England to New Zealand.