TO AUSTRALIA IN 28 DAYS

Taranaki Daily News, 9 February 1928, Page 9

TO AUSTRALIA IN 28 DAYS

HINKLER’S DARING FLIGHT A TINY MACHINE EMPLOYED AVIATOR REACHES ROME By Telegraph—Free® Assn.—Copyright. A. and N.Z. London, Feb. 7. Th© Australian airman, Bert Hinkler, left the Croydon aerodrome at 6.45 a.m. to-day on his attempt to fly to Australia. Received Feb. 8, 8.19 p.m. A.P.A. and Sun. Rome, Feb. 7. Hinkler arrived at Rome at 8.30 tonight, after flying three hours in darkness. Mr. Bert Hinkler ie making hie attempt to fly to Australia, in a Baby Avro machine (nicknamed "Box of Tricks”), which is said to resemble a flying fish. He is expected to proceed to Italy on the first stage of his journey, which he hopes to fully accomplish In 28 days. A recent message from London said; —The machine is equipped with two petrol tanks, which contain a total of 66 gallons of petrol. This is sufficient for 15 hours’ flying, at a speed of 80 miles an hour. If necessary the machine can do 115 miles an hour. A long experience of test flying has created in Mr. Hinkler an air-canniness and ingenuity which is reflected in a number of his own device's which simplify flying. The chief of these is an automatic under-carriage which adjusts itself to the angle and speed of landing. Other devices invented by the airman ; include a steerable tail-skid, which enables the aeroplane to thread its way through cattle when on the ground, a tiny double-action pump, which enables the pilot to refuel without leaving his seat, and a simple strangle-valve which permits the propeller to be started with one hand. The machine is tinted silver and dark-green, and bears the identity letters GEBOV. A tapering bulge behind the pilot’s seat, something like a stunted dorsal fin, ie a unique mystery of equipment. The mere pulling of a wire releases from it a collapsible rubber dinghy capable of holding five persons, yet which rolls up in the compose of a raincoat. Tucked away in the fuselage are a dozen bottles of whisky personally addressed to people in Australia. Apart from a gift of emergency radons, the only luggage carried will be a small attache ease and a set of charts. Received Feb. 8, 9.36 p.m. A. and N.Z. London, Feb. 8. The Daily Telegraph, describing Bert Hinkler as the most modest of aviators, expresses the hope that he will be successful in his ambitious venture, "for the task he has set himself demands precisely the qualities we most need in pioneers of modern aviation—a total absence of that foolhardiness which, unfortunately, was so marked a characteristic of too many of last year’s transAtlantic fliers, and an abundance of patience and fortitude without which no modern airman can lay claim to greatness.”