AIRMAN PUSHING ON

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 230, 29 September 1931, Page 7

AIRMAN PUSHING ON

KINGSFORD SMITH’S FLIGHT DEPARTURE FROM KARACHI. By T°legraph—Press Association— Copyright.; Received Sept. 29, 1.15 a.m. KARACHI, Sept. 28. Air-Commodoro Kingsford Smith has arrived. He reports a slow trip due to an inefficient propeller and his unwillingness to run the engine at a high enough speed to bring the ’plane’s cruising pace up to normal. “Smithy” has recovered from his indisposition. Ho departed for .Task at 1 30 p.m., where ho will probably have to land by flare. TOUCH OF SUNSTROKE “SMITHY” CONTINUES ON. CALCUTTA, Sept. 27. Air-Commodoro Kingsford Smith arrived at Calcutta at 11.25 a.m., and left for Allahabad at 12.15 p.m. Later “Smithy” flew over Bamrauli Aerodrome, Allahabad, and dropped a message attached to a banana, that he was proceeding to Jhansi. With the helping wind he expected to reach Jhansi at dusk. Kingsford Smith had an amazing escape from death when flying from Rangoon to Calcutta. Starting off be foro dawn he was making good progress over the Bay of Bengal when he suddenly fainted at a height of 3000 feet, regaining consciousness when the machine was a few hundred feet above the water and steadily falling. Kingsford Smith revived by putting his head over tho side of the ’plane and obtaining an onrush of air. He regained control in the nick of time. When he arrived at Calcutta he first asked for a glass of brandy and said that he believed ho had slight sunstroke, but he refused to stay for treatment and left an hour later for Jhansi, where he is staying the night. “Smithy” is still suffering from n severe headache, but he is now wearing an airman’s topee given to him by a member of the aerodrome staff. “Smithy” said that the experience was uncanny and unnerving. He had never had it before and he hoped he never would again. He had learned a lesson and was wearing a topee during the rest of the flight. “Smithy” is still half a day ahead of Mr. Mollison’s time, hut he has tho appearance of being very ill. ARRIVAL AT JHANSI AIRMAN FEELING BETTER. BOMBAY, Sept. 28. Air-Commodore Kingsford Smith landed at Jhansi shortly after 6 o’clock last, evening. Ho is now feeling all right, and is ahead of Mollison’s time.