AVIATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19811, 1 December 1919, Page 5

AVIATION.

THE AUSTRALIAN FLIGHT. ALLIANCE DISASTER INQUIRY. LONDON, November 25. The Air Ministry’s inquiry into the Surbiton crash is proceeding slowly. The committee examined Miss Mabel Woolley (Captain Douglas’s fiancee) and investigated her allegation that the machine was inadequately tested. Independent evidence which was produced satisfied the committee that the machine made several flights on the previous day with its Tull equipment, its aggregate flying time being two hours, which was a sufficient test. The inquiry is now directed towards establishing the full weight carried. The machine was equipped with a specially large petrol tank, but the evidence shows that it was not full on the day of the disaster. ROSS SMITH LEAVES FOR, CALCUTTA. ALLAHABAD, November 28. The Vickers-Yimy machine on which Captain Ross Smith, his brother. Lieutenant Keith Smith, and Sergeants Bennett and Shires (mechanics) are Hying to Australia left for Calcutta at 0.30 this morning. POULET LEAVES CALCUTTA. CALCUTTA, November 25. , Etienne Poulet, the French aviator in continuation of his flight to Australia, left this morning for Akyab (a seaport of British Burmnh). WILKINS IN FRANCE. LONDON. November 29. Captain Wilkins has arrived at St Raphael, near Frejus, in s Southern ranee. ROSS SMITH AND POULET AT AKYAB. CALCUTTA, November 28. Boss Smith arrived at 2.10 this afternoon, and was welcomed by a great crowd on landing at the racecourse. Iho journey from Allahabad was excellent. He departs for Rangoon to-mor-row, halting at Akyab. ' LONDON, November 29. Ross Smith cables from Akyab:— .‘‘ I.left Calcutta at 8.30 on the morning ol November 29 and lander! at Akyab at one o’clock. 1 flew cast of Chittagong across the mouths of the Gauges, then south. Wo had good weather, poulet is here-, and both machines leave lor Rangoon tomorrow. Ail well.’'