SPEED TRIAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 196, 20 August 1934, Page 8

SPEED TRIAL

THE LOCKHEED ALTAIR AN ALTITUDE TEST SYDNEY, Aug. 6. Australian interest in the Centenary Air Race from London to Melbourne is increasing, and news of the various entrants is eagerly awaited. However, it is about Sir Charles Kingsford Smith that Australians are displaying the most concern. They are convinced now that he has a machine that is capable of winning the race provided all other things are equal, and they are gratified at the care he is taking in liis training. He has expressed a determination to be as fit as it is possible ro make a man. His flight to England will be watched keenly, and he has announced that he will leave Australia in the Lady Southern Cross, the name he has given to his new aeroplane, on September 25. He will fly by easy stages, and will call at Constantinople, where he will seek a reconciliation with the Turkish authorities. It was recently stated that Turkey would not allow him to fly over Turkish territory because he had done so on a previous flight without having first obtained permission. If the ban remains it will make a great difference to his prospects when the race is on. The Lady Southern Cross has undergone severe speed trials since it reached Sydney, and Sir Charles and his co-pilot have refused to divulge the results. The smiles on their faces as they stepped from the cockpit at Mascot on Friday were taken as an indication that they were highly satisfied with the results that had. been obtained that day. With enough petrol for a 2000 mile flight the Lockheed Altair flew’ at terrific speed over a course of 43£ miles between two coastal points. The machine took off from the aerodrome in 300 yards and remained aloft for 45 minutes. On landing Sir Charles said that the aeroplane easily Climbed with its load of 200 gallons to 15,000 ft, where the temperature, recorded on a special thermometer carried on the edge of the windscreen, was 10 degrees below zero, Centigrade. Sir Charles took the machine to 15,000 feet to check its climbing ability with a full load in case he decides to fly a great circle course after' Bagdad on the second stage of the Centenl ary Air Race. If he took this course to Allahabad he would have to cross during the first two hours of .flight a mountain range 10,000 feet high. Sir Charles was able to gauge the maximum speed of the Lady Southern Cross accurately between the two lighthouses by the aid of a stop-watch and a driftsight instrument. Although the flyers were heavy wool-lined boots and gloves, their hands and feet were almost frozen. Because of this Sir Charles has decided to install a heating system in the cockpiU