LONG DISTANCE FLIGHTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19802, 18 May 1934, Page 14

LONG DISTANCE FLIGHTS

ATTITUDE OF THE PUBLIC VISION OF THE FUTURE By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON. May 17. "It will be a good thing for aviation when the Faith in Australia or any other machine which comes across the Tasman Sea will land at Rongotai and be welcomed by no one except the officials out there and anyone else who happens to be flying about, for that will show clearly that the people realise that the days of sensationalism in flying are over.” said Mr C. T. P. Ulm, speaking at a luncheon tendered to him by the Australian Society. “The man in the street will know that a machine is on the way and he will know just as surely that that machine will arrive.” In the early days of flying the sensational side had naturally been featured and long distance flights were regarded as highly sensational and hazardous, continued Mr Ulm. Aviation had suffered as a result, but today the view was changing. “We look forward to the day when experimental flying will be over, but before that day comes it will be necessary for the Governments in both countries to give support to essential preliminary work. I believe it has been necessary in every part of the world for the governments concerned to subsidise in some way aviation activities in their early stages, and that, I think, will be the case here.” Repairs to Monoplane. It is possible that the Faith in Australia will leave on Sunday for the Ninety Mile Beach in readiness for the return flight across the Tasman Sea. Mr Ulm stated to-day that the part of the engine which it was thought might have to be imported from America had been found on examination to be good enough to see him back to Australia. Another part of the engine which was worn was being repaired in Wellington. It might be possible to try out the engine on Saturday morning, and a test flight might be made in the afternoon. “New Guinea is a tremendously important place in view of the gold discovered there,” said Mr Ulm in an interview. “I believe it is the natural route along which the air service should be developed, and I am forming a company for that purpose and also to develop the Australia—New Zealand air mail service. As there has been no direct and organised air mail or commercial flight between Australia and New Guinea, I made application to the Postmaster-General of Australia to carry the first official air mail to Papua and New Guinea, and I have now received official advice that my proposal has been accepted by the Government, therefore, my flight will take place. The personnel on the New Guinea flight will be Allen, Boulton, and myself.”