HINKLER PLANS SECRET EXPLOIT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18805, 6 July 1929, Page 1

HINKLER PLANS SECRET EXPLOIT.

FLYING CIRCLES WONDER WHAT IT WILL BE.

Bert Hinkler’s announcement at Copenhagen a few days ago that he would sdon be off “on a sensational exploit,” the nature of which he could not disclose, has roused curiosity in flying circles. No one in Melbourne seems to know anything of the proposed exploit, but many are guessing. There are two ways in which Hinkler _ could carry out a sensational exOne is in respect of some daring flight, and the other is a flight with some new and hitherto secret or unknown device. Regarding the former, he may be contemplating a flight to Australia in record time. He has already accomplished it in sixteen days. KingsfordSmith hopes to do it in thirteen days, perhaps Hinkler thinks it can be done in a week. Why not? Atlantic Flight? Two pilots recently flew non-stop to India. It is possible Hinkler, with the aid of a colleague, might repeat that performance. A second non-stop flight to Singapore would bring him within easy reach of Darwin for the third hop. The objection to such a flight is both airmen would probably be exhausted long before they were half way. Only one flight across the Atlantic from east to west has been made, and this was not altogether successful, the three airmen, two Germans and an Irishman, having a forced landing somewhere in Labrador, where they were marooned. Hinkler may be contemplating a more spectacular and more complete flight from Europe to America, with a “clean” landing in New York. New Development. On the other hand, his sensational exploit may be associated with a new form of ’plane or engine. What is described as a revolution in aero engines was successfully tried last month in America. This is the Wollson Diesel engine, using crude petroleum as fuel. Over a test flight last month a distance of 560 miles was covered with a fuel expenditure of 18s, compared with a petrol consumption of £5. The engine has been produced by the Packard Motor Company, which claims, in addition to low fuel costs, that fire risk is eliminated. Radio can be operated without interference, and greater reliability is assured. It is known that Hinkler’s chief pride in his flight was the fact that he made the journey to Australia for less than a second-class fare. Perhaps the new engine may have attracted him, and his sensational exploit may be an attempt to show the world how cheap flying can be.