BRILLIANT FLYING IN SMALL PLANE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19941, 27 October 1934, Page 13

BRILLIANT FLYING IN SMALL PLANE

NEW ZEALANDERS IN THE LEAD

IN FULL FLIGHT FOR MELBOURNE United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received October 26, 7 p.m.) DARWIN, October 26. Squadron-Leader M. C. McGregor and H. C. Walker flying the smallest machine in the air race yet to reach Australia, arrived this morning from Koepang. The 'plane is only about the same size as the well-known Moth machine. Both men are pleased with their experience in crossing the Timor Sea. McGregor said they would have been in Australia on Thursday had it not been necessary to dismantle the cowling at Koepang. The pilots were more than a little tired but a cold wash and a hot breakfast revived them. Squadron-Leader McGregor was very modest in describing the flight which occupied five days 15J hours from London. “We had a very good trip. There were no incidents. I could do with a little sleep. Both of us have had practically none since leaving London, but we managed to get a short nap yesterday night while waiting for the cowling to be overhauled.”

When it was pointed out to McGregor that his time from London was really an excellent performance for a light single-engined machine, he merely replied: “It feels like a month. We want to push on as quickly as possible. There is no sense in wasting time.”

McGregor added that they .did not encounter any major trouble. They were bogged at Alor Star where the mud seemed to be giving trouble to most ’planes. “The flight over the Timor Sea this morning was a very good one,” said McGregor, “but at one stage, we ran into a heavy rainstorm and in order to dodge it had to climb to a very great altitude. Night-flying does not worry us a bit now, because we have done so much of it on this flight.” PROGRESS OF COMPETITORS NEW ZEALANDERS’ GOOD SHOWING United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received October 26, 10.5 p.m.) MELBOURNE, October 26. Squadron-Leader M. C. McGregor, who arrived at Darwin at 7.20 a.m., passed Newcastle Waters at 2 p.m., but no report has been received since, but it is believed that he is stopping at Cloncurry or may be Charleville tonight.

At 9.45 p.m. (local time) SquadronLeader McGregor landed at Brunette Downs at 5 p.m. He was directed to Cloncurry, but has not been sighted since.

Another message states that McGregor was reported over Newcastle Water at 2 p.m., and he cannot possibly reach Charleville to-night, even if he were to attempt a direct flight. It is regarded as likely that if he has reached Cloncurry he will remain the night and continue in the morning to Charleville.

Considerable interest is being displayed in McGregor’s flight, owing to the possibility of his scoring heavily in the handicap race.

Squadron-Leader J. D. Hewett and Flying-Officer Kay arrived at Rambang at 10 a.m. and left at 10.45 a.m. They arrived at Koepang at 3.50 p.m.

Squadron-Leader D. E. Stodart and K. G. Stodart left Singapore at 8.05 a.m. They nearly met with disaster at Alor Star yesterday, when they landed in six inches of water. The machine nearly tipped up when taking off in the darkness of the morning, and had to be dug out of the mud. The fliers landed at Batavia at 1.17 p.m. C. J. Melrose arrived at Singapore at 2.35 p.m. No news had been received since he passed Victoria Point. Lieutenant M. Hansen and Jensen were held up at Alor Star owing to engine trouble. They left at 2.45 p.m. J. H. Wright and J. Polando arrived at Jask at 9 p.m.. and reached Karachi at 12.15 p.m. Mollison’s Plans. The Mollisons have arrived at Calcutta. They said they might continue to Australia slowly, or return to England. Amy added: “No praise is too high for Scott.” PLANS OF WINNING PILOTS EARLY DEPARTURE FOR THEIR HOMES United Press Association—By L'.ectrlc Telegraph—Copyright MELBOURNE,, October 26. Colonel Roscoe Turner is shipping his ’plane to Honolulu, thence flying to San Francisco. C. W. A. Scott is shipping his ’plane to England. K. P. Parmentier is flying to Holland. Disaster nearly overtook Ken Waller. After landing at Laverton, a strong gust of wind swept the Comet round. Air Force members grasped the wings and prevented the machine from overturning. Discussing the race, Waller and Cathcart Jones expressed disappointment in not winning, claiming that their Comet was faster than Scott’s, whose achievement they warmly appreciated. They added: “From England and back in eight days, is our idea.”