FLIES 145 MILES AN HOUR

Taranaki Daily News, 13 June 1930, Page 11

FLIES 145 MILES AN HOUR

NEW ZEALAND SPEED RECORD

LIEUT. BUCKLEY’S NON-STOP TRIP.

CHRISTCHURCH TO AUCKLAND.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night.

A record speed for air travel in New Zealand was established by FlightLieutenant M. W. Buckley to-day, when he flew one of the Government Fairey lIIF planes from Sockburn aerodrome. Christchurch, to Hobsonville air base, Auckland, in three hours 40 minutes. ' It was a non-stop flight, and the distance by the route followed was calculated by the pilot to be 532 miles. The average speed, that is, ground speed, was thus 145 miles an hour. A southerly gale enabled this great speed to be attained. At times the velocity of the gale reached 50 miles an hour. Sockburn was left at 9.50" a.m., and Hobsonville readied at 1.30 p.m. BLENHEIM SEARCHES FOR PLANE. “ENGINE SEEMED TROUBLESOME.” Blenheim, Last Night. Captain Buckley left Christchurch, it is understood here, intending to call at Blenheim on his way north. As he had not arrived at midday inquiries were set afoot. The airman had not been seen at Wellington or Paekakariki, but had been observed during the morning between Kaikoura and Ward, and the report stated that his engine appeared to be running badly. At two o’clock the Marlborough Aero Club sent out a plane to search the southern coast, but a quarter of an hour later advice was received that Captain Buckley had reached Auckland. The search plane was still out at 3.15, there being no means of recalling it. •