LONG FLIGHT THROUGH RAIN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16330, 20 January 1921, Page 8

LONG FLIGHT THROUGH RAIN.

AVRO RETURNS FROM DUNEDIN. Avro 0243, the machine which flew to* Wellington and back, was piloted from Dunedin to Christchurch this morning by Captain F.unn Dickson, with two passengers. Tho flying timo was 3 hours 25 minutes, but a long stop was made, at Oamaru for breakfast and the elapsed timo for the JCJJJney'was a little under six hours. Ihe Ws were as follow:oSSSf ■. ~15 .JO Christchurch - • 12-2° ” Clear weather enabled Captain Dickson to get over the hills aftex leaving Dunedin, but four miles from Oamaru he ran into dense rain clouds and was forced to descend to 300 feet or 400 feet to keen his bearings. He landed in Major Orbell’s paddock in heavy rain. The weather report from Tima.ru at 8.30 a.m. said. “Cloudy and raining heavilv,” and from Christchurch, “ Cloudy, “ slight easterly wind and drizzle.” After breakfast, although it was still raining. Can-tain Dickson decided to push right on to Christchurch, in view of the flat country enabling him to fly low in the rain. He followed the railway line practically all the way. Ho ran out of rain for about four inilea north of Ashburton, but. was in rain clouds right up to Solwyn. At Christchurch the clouds were 1200 feet high. Mr W. Brown was a passenger from Dunedin to Oamaru, and Air N. C«vchrist from Oamaru to Christchurch, which was a non-stop flight. Captain Dickson brought up Mr J- Hurd, mechanic, from Dunedin.