AVIATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19815, 5 December 1919, Page 8

AVIATION.

FLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA. By Teloprsph—Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association, (Received December o. 8.15 a.m.) LONDON. December 4. The Martinsyde machine left Hounslow at 9.34 a.m., and made an excellent start. POULET RETURNS TO RANGOON. (Received December 5, 11.35 a.m.) RANGOON, December 4. Poulet started in the morning, and i had almost crossed the Gulf of Marta- j ban when engine trouble developed, and ; he decided to return to Rangoon for a thorough overhaul. ROSS SMITH REACHES / SINGAPORE. BAD FLYING CONDITIONS. .United Service. (Received December 5, 11.35 a.m.', Oli/alju. k, x/Vt.viiA JOT Ot Ross Smith cau.e-j Oiii fe .i t AJie o.; Direeaium -i l uii occuL'i at, seven, liuvi .uvivon at at ouc, being escurtcii iw w»c a»at luty miles Uy lout aiaiauae iUuCi.aa.-a. in.; course lay soulu along me coast Oi Alal.iy. irer me mat t.-.o i.oiiia t.uueatner wa.j goou, im.u uoiuy munauou rein anu witiu, strong and boii-etiiues limping uun son.e.lines . against, it was ueecaanvy to a., uw,u j ior tnree houia- ronon aig tire coast, he was almost illumed by rain, but the country was for fanning, aim he mid to continue under me worst dying coudi.ions lie had ever encountered. Tne last i.our was better. The aerodrome landing ul bingo,a was lam and stumpy. Tie bad to land in a ciross wind on a small dry patch, and got safely down with luck. Later, while taxi-ing the machine, the tail skid caught on a root and broke a lilting. but the damage was not serious tie decided, owing to the weather, that he woihd be unable to reach fctngapore without more petrol, and. ho wired IViiung to send a supply urgently During the night there were heavy squalls, and the crew held the machine a A night. On December 3 there .was torrential rain, with wind, bub ho repaired tho skid. The .crew were wet through while working "'at the machine all day, but were quite cheerful. Tho petrol arrived in the evening, but it was raining too hard to allow them to put it in. December 4 was his birthday, and, though the weather was bad, he decided to try for Singapore. Ho left Singora at ten. and arrived at Singapore at fire. The take off at Singcra was very rough, but convicts had cleared the stumps from the aerodrome, which was very wet in patches. Luckily he got off in a cross wind. Rain fell all the way. He flew from 2000 ft to ■-00 ft all the way, and had a great reception at Singapore by a huge crowd. He hopes to reach Java, on December 0. and Darwin on December 10. Tile Vickers-Vimy crew are well. A CORRECTION. Australian and N.Z. Ctble Association. (Recehed December 6, 12.15 p.m.) LONDON, December 2. Captain Matthews has arrived at Vienna in a Sopwith machine, and not at London, as previously cabled. He hopes soon to start for Belgrade. He states that bad weather and lack of petrol wen responsible for the delay.