FAST FLYING TO AUSTRALIA.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18849, 11 April 1931, Page 13

FAST FLYING TO AUSTRALIA.

Ten Day Record Broken. QUEENSLANDER’S WONDERFUL FEAT. United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright (Received April 10, 8.45 p.m.) SYDNEY, April 10. Mr C. W. A. Scott arrived at Darwin at 5.50 p.m. (local time). BEFORE ARRIVAL. EARLIER PROMISE HONOURED. United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright (Received April 10, 8.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, April 10. Mr O. W. A. Scott, the young Queensland aviator, was expected to reach Darwin to-night, where a good crowd is awaiting his arrival. Flares were ready in case of their being necessary. Mr Scott was among the pilots who escorted Amy Johnson from Darwin to Brisbane. On that occasion he made the decision to fly from England to Australia. He told a Sydney journalist that he would do the journey in ten days or burst. ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOME. RECORD BEATEN BY FOURTEEN HOURS. United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright (Received April 11, 12 a.m.) DARWIN, April 10. Mr Scott was first noticed flying from the north across Shoal Bay. He landed at the aerodrome at 5.50 p.m., amid a scene of excitement, the local people cheering enthusiastically, many having waited all day. Mr Scott was cheerily greeted by old aviation acquaintances. He was very sunburnt and was offered a whisky and soda, but said he preferred beer, which was not available, so he contented himself with sarsaparilla and the gift of a cigarette, Mr Scott said he was overjoyed to be on his natice soil safe and sound. The last stage was worst. All Bima was very wet when he left. He agreed with “Smithy” that the job was a very hard one. He had had little or no sleep for ten days, having left England at 4.55 a.m. on April 1, and arriving at Darwin 9 days, 12 hours 45 minutes later. Air Commodore Kingsford Smith’s record was thus beaten by about fourteen hours. Mr Scott displayed an inflated lifebelt, which he had worn in the later stages. He carried his baby daughter’s black golliwog as a mascot. It is uncertain when Mr Scott is leaving Darwin, but it will not be for ; a day or two. He then will fly to Brisbane leisurely, as he is content with breaking the record. The Government Resident also the Mayor welcomed him on behalf of the Government. “DONE A MARVELLOUS THING.” SCOTT’S FATHER DELIGHTED. United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright (Received April 11, 12 a.m.) LONDON, April 10. The news of Mr Scott’s arrival at Darwin reached his father at Colchester at breakfast. “That splendid; the boy has done a marvellous thing,” he said. The father conveyed the news to Mr Scott’s young wife. THE FLIGHT IN DETAIL. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING RECORD. Mr Alexander Scott’s flight has been a surprising one. When he left Croydon for Darwin it was with the avowed intention of breaking Kingsford Smith’s record, and he has succeeded. When Mr Scott reached Calcutta on the sixth day of his flight he was half a day behind his own schedule, but was six hours ahead of Kingsford Smith. At Singapore, which was reached on the eighth day, he had increased his lead to eight hours, and on the journey from there apparently has been “hustling.” Mr Scott left Croydon on April 1 in a 120 horse-power Gipsy Moth, fitted with extra tanks. His route was then reported to be via Sofia, Aleppo, Bushire, Karachi, Rangoon, Singapore, Bima, and Darwin. Kingsford Smith’s record was as follows:—• Day. Miles. Ist—London-Rome 738 2nd—Athens 801 3rd—Aleppo 830 4th—Bushire 1020 sth—Karachi 1116 6th—Allahabad 810 7th—Rangoon 1130 Bth—Singapore 1200 9th—Sourabaya 1100 10th—Atamboea 850 11th—Darwin 500