RIVALRY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19933, 31 August 1927, Page 9

RIVALRY

INTEREST QUICKENS Tasman Sea Flights Become Important Topic EXPERT ADVICE MAVHIN'E TIIK Fi LINDBEBGH’S [ Special “ Chronicle ” Serviea. J AUCKLAND, Aug. 30. It is fairly evident that before very long the Tasman Sea will be croesed iA an aeroplane or a At present there are several rival crews in Australia and New Zealand and other countries further away, working frantically, each hoping to raise money with which to purchase aircraft to essay this particular sea flight. Ln 1921 Mr H- J. Wilson of Auckland first suggested such a flight, and endeavoured to get a backing. Two years later the matter was placed before Cabinet which approved of tha flight being attempted by Captain George Bolt, Mr Wilson and a navigator and a small subsidy was granted by the Government, but the full amount required could not be obtained. Since then the Government has decided to purchase the machine used at fourfifths its costj provid-ed the machine Is of the heavier type and negotiations aro still proceeding by mail. To-day the organiser, Mr Wilson, received a letter from Mr Eliot Davis of Auckland, who is at present in London and has interested himself in tho flight, stating that Mr Graham White, one of England’s pioneers in aviation, has t'he matter in hand at the London end. Mr Graham White has been ’ collaborating with Sir Alan Cobham, and both these famous airmen arc assisting three Now Zealanders, particularly in the matter of organisation and the selection of a machine.

Lieutenant lan Keith,, of Auckland, is now interested In this particular project and two young Wellington airmen, Lieut. Moncrieff and Lieut. Horace Lloyd, are spoken of as dark

horses. It is reported in Auckland that they have ordered a Ryan monoplane, fitted with a Wright-Radila engine similar to the machine used by Colonel Lindbergh on his famous New York to Paris flight. It was also stated that this machine, which would do tho trip quite easily, given favourable weather, was on the water, and would* be arriving at Wellington durng the next fortnight.