KINGSFORD SMITH

Waipa Post, Volume 43, Issue 3354, 29 September 1931, Page 5

KINGSFORD SMITH

FLIGHT TO ENGLAND AND BACK IN TWENTY DAYS. ATTEMPTING RECORD BOTH WAYS. Air-Commodore Kingsford Smith last week informed the Vacuum Oil Company that, on September 29th, he would leave Wyndham in an attempt on the Australia-England and Eng-land-Australia records. He expects to reach England in 7 days 14 hours, and to complete the flight to England and back to Australia in 20 days. The journey was, however, actually commenced five days ahead of schedule. Kingsford Smith's itinerary is as follows, and at the refuelling points mentioned, the Vacuum Oil Company has laid down supplies of Plume and Mobiloil:—

First day: Wyndham to Cheribon (an emergency landing ground S.E. of Batavia), 1532 miles; second day: Cheribon to Victoria Point, 1390 miles; third day: Victoria Point to Calcutta, 1196 miles; fourth day: Calcutta to Karachi, 1609 miles; fifth day: Karachi to Bagdad, 1609 miles; sixth day: Bagdad to Athens, 1232 miles; seventh day: Athens to Paris, 1514 miles; Paris to London, 217 miles. Total time, 7 days 14hours. The initerary for the return journey is as follows:

First day: London to Naples, 1191 miles; second day: Naples to Aleppo, 1307 miles; third day: Aleppo to Bushire, 955 miles; fourth day: Bushire to Kaßachi, 1119 miles; fifth day: Karachi to Allahabad, 918 miles; sixth day: Allahabad to Rangoon: 1111 miles; seventh day: Rangoon .to Singapore, 1251 miles; eighth day: Singapore to Grogak (island of Bali), 1131 miles? ninth day: l Grogak (to Wyndham, 1080 miles. Total time for the return journey, 8 days, 4 hours.

HERO OF MANY FLIGHTS.

ATTEMPTING NEW RECORDS. Air-Commodore Kingsford Smith spoke from Melbourne on Saturday night, 19th inst, prier to his hop off for London. The following account of Kingsford Smith's farewell message broadcast through the network of Australian stations, together with details of 'the route to be taken and particulars of the Southern Cross Minor, broadcast by Amalgamated Wireless, Australasia, L*d., on shortwave, are supplied by Mr R. Leslie Jones.

"Good evening, Australia!" With these words Kingsford Smith greeted his many listeners. He was bidding "Au Revoir" but not "Goodbye" prior to setting out next morning in his attempt to beat J. Mollison's record flight from Australia to England. "I'm glad to have this opportunity of saying 'au revoir, but not good-bye,' " he said, in thanking all those who had assisted him in his attempt to recapture the record. "I have been asked, what am I going to do with the record.?. I'm 3 ust going to try and beat it. I realise the tremendous task that Mollison has set me. I hope to clip 24 hours off the record. I hope to go home to England in about 71 days, and back in 8_ days. The return journey will take a little longer. Regarding the equipment, the machine is an Avro Avian with a Gipsy'"engine, and _ is practically identical to the machine I used last year from England to Australia. It has extra petrol tanks. I will carry emergency rations, water, a light raft, and a radio transmitter, which will be carried through the whole trip. I hope there will be no need to use either the raft or the radio transmitter. I have been asked by hundreds of people to carry lettews 'to England and which would weigh hundreds of pounds. I am sorry and regret my inability to take the letters, and would take this opportunity of thanking all those who have written and telegraphed their good wishes, as I am unable to personally answer them all." PROPOSED, STAGES.

Kingsford Smith said his first hop would be 950 miles, and then on to Wyndham 1070 miles, arriving the following morning at Cheribon (Java) 1532 miles. The next hop was to Victoria Point 1397 miles, then Calcutta 1196 miles, and Karachi 1383 miles. He expected to leave Karachi at midnight for Bagdad, a distance of 1609 miles; this would be the most difficult part. Athens will be the next call, a distance of 1232 miles, then Paris 1514 miles. If the night was good, he would go on the same night to Croydon, a distance of 217 miles, reaching England in 7 days 14 hours. If unfavourable weather conditions prevailed and the meteorological report unsatisfactory for night flying, he would leave Paris the following morning for Croydon. On the return journey Kingsford Smith would fly via Naples 1191 miles, then o Aleppo 1307 miles, and on to Bushite 955 miles. The next hop would be to Karachi, a distance of 1119 miles, then to Allahabad 918 miles, and on to Rangoon 1111 miles. The next stop will be Singapore, 1251 miles; the Dutch East Indies being reached after a hop of 1131 miles; and from there to Wyndham 1060 miles.

Kingsford Smith expected to complete the return journey. in 8 days 4 or 5 hours. "I'LL GET THROUGH."

"If the engine keeps going, if the machine keeps turning over I'll get through," he said. "I know my machine; I do not say that in any boastful spirit. "I have covered the ground before, and this end of the route four times; I see no reason for not keeping to the schedule. I am very keen to get back the record, 'The Ashes,' shall I call it? If I can win, it will help aviation." Kingsford Smith acknowledged the splendid assistance given him, and said the Press had been very good to him. "Aviation is my profession," added Kingsford Smith. "I won't say goodbye, but au revoir." • A further message from Kingsford Smith was given by Amalgamated Wireless, Australasia, Ltd., on Sunday on short-wave to the effect that Kingsford Smith would do everything in his power to justify the faith the people had in him). He will only remain 36 hours in

London. He thanked the many wireless amateurs who promised to listen in every night in case he had occasion to use the emergency radio transmitter. This will be carried in a waterproof bag. In addition, he was carrying a rubber boat. "I feel I am completely e(qjaipped for* the trip," said the flyer. The machine is an ordinary standard Avro Avian light plane, 110 horsepower, with an additional 80-gallon tank. Fully loaded the plane will weigh just 1 ton, and carry 113 gallons of petrol (about 8201bs). In the event of being forced down Kingsford Smith will transmit messages about midnight (Sydney time) on ■wave-lengths of 33 and 40 metres. The round flight from Melbourne to England and back to Melbourne will occupy 23 days. "You will hear from me again in 23 days," said Kingsford Smith. If Kingsford .Smith succeeds in his attempt he will not only break the fastest time from Australia to England and back, but will establish a new record for the flight from Melbourne to London land back (again to Melbourne. Amalgamated Wireless, Australasia, Ltd., made up a special radio transmitter for Kingsford Smith, and th© Dunlop Rubber Company provided a special rubber boat. . • /