MCGREGORS FLIGHT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 256, 29 October 1934, Page 7

M C GREGORS FLIGHT

DUST STORMS TROUBLESOME LAST STAGES THE WORST. A VERY MODEST PILOT. Received Oct 28, 7.45 p.m. SYDNEY, Oct. 28. McGregor arrived at Charleville at 1.28 p.m. on Saturday and departed at 4.09 p.m. He landed at Narrowmine (Sydney) at 9 p.m. on Saturday and stayed the night. During the time they were believed to be missing McGregor and Walker were actually spending the night at Brunette iDowns, with which there is no radio communication. “Where are Hewett and Kay?” asked Mccfregoi when they landed at Cloncurry, adding, “we must not allow them to beat us.” He said that they stayed at Brunette Downs to avoid the possbility of being lost in dust storms raging during the night. The Hardest Section of All. “This is the hardest section of the flight,” he proceeded. “The engine cowling gave trouble, but after making an oil-screen from a kerosene tin. to prevent oil from clouding the drift indicator, we were able to get away.” At Charleville. explaining the delay between there and Darwin. McGregor said: “The weather was clear when we left Darwin, but we ran into bad duststorms just before reaching Newcastle ; Waters. It was not bad enough to detain us there, so we took off for Cloncurry. As we proceeded flying conditions gradually became worse, and, at times, it was impossible to see more than a few yards ahead. We had passed Brunette Downs when visibility became so bad that it was impossible to proceed further. Consequently, we returned and landed at the station. “The country between Darwin and Charleville is difficult "Jor flying at any time, and, with bad weather conditions ahead, we would have run a serious risk of crashing if we had tried to proceed. Consequently, we spent the night at Brunette.” The modesty of the New Zealanders created an impression at Charleville. McGregor, when told by the Mayor that he was a hero, replied, “Oh. no. There is nothing at all like that about it. I am just an ordinary sort of chap who happens to earn his living' by flying.” The New Zealanders are sunburnt because the ’plane offers no shelter. The pilots sit in open cockpits, whereas other machines are completely closed in. The Miles Hawk looks quite sturdy, yet almost a cheeky little craft when mentally compared with some of the larger and more powerful ’planes. “JUST A TRIP” McGREGOR’S BRIEF COMMENT WILL DO WELL IN HANDICAP Received Oct. 28, 12 midnight. MELBOURNE, Oct. 28. Oniy a few people were at Laverton aerodrome at 7.'5 a.m. on Sunday to welcome McGregor and Walker, the New Zealanders, fhosc present included Mr. W. G. Biack, president of the Manawatu Aero Club, Mr. K. M. Firth, the New Zealand Government representative, Colonei Helicr-Evans, president of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, Messrs A. E. Fraser and L. L. Beeson, representing ‘he New Zealand Association in Melbourne. Mr. D. G. .Sullivan. Mayor of Christchurch, the Bev. E. T. Cox. Mayor of Dunedin, Lieut. Buckley, New Zealand Air Force, Mr. N. C. Chandler, instructor of the Marlborough Aero Club, Mr. J. G. Armstrong. New Zealand pilot. When the tiny machine was wheeled io the hangar the spectators ’aughed as it was accommodated under one wing of Parmentior’s machine. “Just a trip,” was McGregor’s comment. “The weather was bad after Darwin. We lost a lot of time trying ;o follow tracks. People advised us :o watch for these, but they usually petered out at a waterhole.” Walker added that the cowling worded the life out of them. “Every time we stopped we had to repair it instead of resting,” he said. Both pilots are well, but burned from exposure to wind and sun. The machine is the only one in the race with an open iockpit. Though the handicap points will not be calculated for more than a week yet, McGregor’s machine, on ac-J sount of its smallness and good time, is I expected to be high on the list.