GREAT AIR FLIGHT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19032, 9 June 1924, Page 11

GREAT AIR FLIGHT

AROUND AUSTRALIAN COAST. STARTLING EXPERIENCES. LEADER’S GRAPHIC STORY. Wing-Commander Goble gave a graphic account of the flight around Australia, whii;h he has just completed, its object and results in an Interview in Melbourne a fortnight ago. The . objects, Wing-Commander Goble said, were to pioneer from a defence standpoint a seaplane route from Melbourne to Thursday Island, to collect information as a preliminary to the proposed aerial survey of the Great Barrier Roef, in conjunction with the Australian Navy, and to test the performance of an aeroplane in the tropics. Approaching Sydney, the aviator said, the seas were mountainous, and once or twice the machine narrowly eseaped hitting the cliffs about Bulfi. It was much too close to be pleasant. After passing Newcastle excessive rain forced them down to a height of 50ft., but even then the sea was not visible. The machine at this time was practically uncontrollable. They endeavoured to make Port Stephens, but owing to the island there being enshrouded in rain a landing on the inlet was too risky, A fleeting break in the weather gave them, a glimpse of the Myall River, and in this narrow steam they made a landing. Up tp this stage of the flight the pilot’s compass had burst twice, and to add to the difficulties the float began to leak considerably, and had to be patched with canvas and lead. At Gladstone (Queensland), which the aviator regards as unsuitable as a seaplane base owing to the coral on the shores, they were compelled to fly to a small island off the shore, and not being able to get. on the beach there had to work from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. up to their necks in water straining petrol through chamois leather into the machine’s tank. Thev were savagely attacked by sandflies and mosquitoes, which made sleep impossible, so having finished the work on the machine, they made a fire of empty petrol cases, and hung their clothes up in the trees about it to dry.

SANDFLIES AND MOSQUITOES. Flag-Lieutenant Macintyre suffered from swollen feet and bunged eyes from the sandflies and mosquitoes, and could not wear boots for some days. Between Townsville and Cooktown they ran into bumpy conditions, and once when making a reconnaissance for landing at Cairns they lost 500 ft. unintentionally, the machine getting practically out of control. ~