SMITHY FIRST.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20329, 12 June 1934, Page 1

SMITHY FIRST.

Schneider Cup Pilot Picks

the Card,

AIR RACE PROSPECTS. LONDON, June 6. Flight-Lieutenant Schofield, one of the Schneider Trophy pilots. prophesies that the first three places in the Centenary’ Air Race to Melbourne will be filled by:— Air-Commodore Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, Australia (Lockhead Altair) 1 K. D. Permentica, a K.L.M. (Dutch Air Line) pilot (Douglas D.C.2) 2 Captain G. T. Pond and Lieutenant Cesare Sabelli (U.S.) (Bellanca) 3 Each of these machines is American. Flight-Lieutenant Schofield, in a specially’ prepared summary of the chances of the race, said: — “ Teams flying twin-engined planer seem the best bets. Single pilots, with single-engined machines, will be absolutely’ gambling on the weather. They w’ill need extraordinary luck. “ Triple-engined planes are not sufficiently speedy’, as the third engine reduces the speed. Twin-engines permit more space for changing pilots and for more complete equipment in the way’ of wireless and navigation instruments—all contributing to greater reliability in bad weather. “ I do not expect that the Americans will be as formidable as they believe. They’ will all probably exceed 200 miles an hour; nevertheless, their performances and general utility’ are usually well below American press estimates. Dutch Advantages. “ K.L.M. possesses a big advantage. It has first-class pilots, who thoroughlv know each other, and a well-estab-lished organisation over the worst part of the route. “It would be difficult to find a better pilot than Kingsford Smith, whose machine also should at least equal the other American planes. The only snag appears to be that in his recent performances he has developed some physical weakness, although his courage is undiminished. “ Such a gruelling race demands 100 per cent fitness. British Chances. “ Pond and Sabelli will be truly a team, working as an efficient unit. They have long been accustomed to flying together in the machine which they’ are entering. That is half the battle.

“ Moreover, they’ are experienced long distance flyers—a tremendous asset.

“ I do not think Major Fitzmaurice (Irish Free State) and Bonar, are sufficiently’ experienced' in long distance high speed flying. “Captain Neville Stack (Britain) in his new Airspeed Courier Eight, should be among the first six. His speed will probably equal that of the Americans, and his fine piloting is likely’ to prove an important factor, making him an especially’ good bet if there is extensive bad weather.

“ I would place Wilev Post fourth to sixth, with an excellent chance of bouncing through. He has tons of nerve, is highly’ skilled, and tadces plenty of chances, which may prove his undoing, because he may attempt to rush through a storm, where a more cautious pilot like Kingsford Smith would circumvent it, proving that the longest way round is the shortest way home.

“‘Jimmie’ Weddell (LLS.) is both a designer and a pilot. These abilities rarely combine to produce the best results.

“ The de Havilland Comets remain an unknown quantity. The Mollisons, who will fly’ one, are good cross-coun-try’ pilots. Thus far they have been very lucky. But usually luck turns. “ Mr C. W. A. Scott, who will also fly a Comet, has an equal chance to the Mollisons. He is perhaps a sounder organiser.” French Entrant. Michel Detroyat. who has entered for the Centenary Air Race, is among the most popular flyers in France, an expert aerobatist, and test pilot for the Morane Company’. He bought a Centenary Lockheed whil_e in the United States.

FLIGHT POSTPONED. Mr Ulm Cannot Hop Off From Invercargill. United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received June 12, 12.40 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 12. The flight by Mr C. T. P. Ulm from Invercargill to Hobart has definitely been postponed because he is unable to obtain a suitable ground at Invercargill from which to take off. The return flight from New Zealand to Sydney has been arranged for June 27, weather permitting. ' AIR LINER CRASHES. Seven Killed When Plane Hits Mountain. (Received June 12. noon.) NEW YORK, June 11. A message from Livingstone Manor .says that an American Airlines plane, hopping off from Newark (New Jersey) at daybreak on Saturday for Chicago, crashed in the Catskill Mountains near here and was d.ztroyed by fire. The four passengers, the pilot, co-pilot and stewardess were burned to death.