HEWETT DELAYED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 257, 30 October 1934, Page 5

HEWETT DELAYED

’PLANE STRIKES FENCE TWO DAYS FOR REPAIRS [By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) Recci 'cd Oct. 29, 10.18 p.m. CHARLEVILLE, Oct. 29. A report received from Cloncurry states that Hewett and Kay (New Zealand), flying a DH Dragon, while taking off from Cloncurry, hit a fence. They damaged one wing, cracked a spar and damaged the rudder post. Repairs will probably occupy two days. TO FLY THE TASMANHEWETT’S INTENTIONS. DARWIN, Oct. 29. Hewett stated that after reaching Alelbourne he would fly back to Sydney, where he would await favourable weather for a flight from Richmond aerodrome to New Zealand. The 'plane is capable of carrying eight passengers and a pilot. McGREGOR AND WALKER AWAITING HEWETT’S ARRIVAL. Received Oct. 29, J 1.15 p.m. MELBOURNE, Oct. 29. Hundreds of congratulations have been received by AlcGregor aud Walker, who have, made no plan for their return to New Zealand yet, owing to the accident to their friendly rivals, Hewett and Kay, whom they are awaiting. Both are avoiding publicity, saying that flying is an everyday job for them. They present an unusual sight in one of thfi leading hotels, and they have not changed the clothes in which they made their flight. Smilingly, they said that their luggage was what they stood in. HANDICAP SECTION WHO WILL WIN HONOURS? McGREGOR ’8 PER FOR MA N CE. Performances to date in the handicap section of the Centenary Air Race suggest that the honours probably lie between Squadron-Lbader Al. C. McGregor and Air. H. C. Walker (New Zealand), C. J. Afelrose (Australia), aud Hansen and Jensen (Denmark). The handicap section is decided on the basis of the. actual time, in the air between stopping places, but competitors must complete ttie cour.se in 16 days in order to qualify in the race. As a result of their forced landing ou the first day of the race, Hewett and Kay (New Zealand) lost probably six to eight hours, and this is a very heavy hurdle for them. Wright and Rolando (America) have retired, and the Stodart brothers (Britain), had to give the limit men a big margin of hours. It does not seem that they will be able to catch up on the time regis tcred by AfcGregor and Walker. Hansen and Jensen, the limit men, apparently have made no mistakes. They have not hurried over the course, and have apparently spent a good deal of time at checking points without Joss of “flying time.” They were reported to have been held up at one of the stopping places with engine trouble, but this may not detract from their flying time performance. Melrose is taking the course very easily, spending a great deal of time at the recognised stopping places. McGregor and Walker had put up a marvellous flying-time performance until they went astray after leaving Darwin. That definitely is their big gest hurdle in the contest for handicap honours. STODARTS LEAVE DARWIN ONE OF PILOTS INJURED HAND CAUGHT BY PROPELLER DARWIN, Oct. 28. Squadron-Leader Stodart severely injured his right hand only a few minutes after arrival. He was swinging the propeller to taxi to the refuelling depot when the engine kicked bavk *>n compression and the blade struck his hand, inflicting a wound which bld profusely. Sergeant Stodart piloted the machine when it departed. The squadron-leader, who was born in Victoria, left Australia before the war. . This is the first time he has revisited his country. He said that when crossing the Timor they passed through the worst thunderstorm in his experience. They ascended to 13,000 feet, but could not rise above it. They were thrown about like a peanut shell in the wind. The rain was torrential. AT CHARLEVILLE. Received Oct. 29, 9.5 p.m. CHARLEVILLE, Oct. 29. The Stodarts arrived at Charleville at 6 p.m. from Cloncurry, which they left at 1.4'5 p.m. HANSEN LEAVES BATAVIA. Received Oct, 29, 5.5 p.m. B iTAVIA, Oct. 29. Hansen and Jcr sen, the limit men, left for Rambanp at 5.25 a.m. local time. LEFT l f i»R DARWIN Received Oct. 29, 10.45 p.m. KOEPANG, Oct. 29. Hansen and Jensen left at noon, Koepang time, for Darwin. ARRIVAL AT DARWIN Received Oct. 30, 12-5 a.m. Hansen and Jensen arrived here at 6.17 p.m. STILL DELAYED WRIGHT AND POLANDO Received Oct. 29, 10.5 p.m. CALCUTTA, Oct. 29Wright and Pnlando are still delayed with magneto trouble.

AIR MAIL RESTRICTIONS DUTCHMEN DISAPPOINTED MELBOURNE, Oct. 29. Thousands of letters from stamp col lectors and others in Holland, brought, to Australia by Parmentier for re-post-ing to Holland, are affected by the refusal of the Postal Department to allow their carriage by the Dutch air liner. The letters must be forwarded by the ordinary steamer service. The department claims that if permission is granted to the Dutch they must also allow other competitors to do likewise. COMPETITORS IN RACE LUNCHEON PLANNED MELBOURNE, Oct. 29. Plans are now being formed for a luncheon at. Parliament .House for visiting airmen, probably on Wednesday. The luncheon will possibly be preceded by a triumphal procession through the RETURN PASSAGE SHIPPING COMPANIES’ OFFER MELBOURNE, Oct. 29. The Orient and P. and O. Companion have offered competitors free return passages to England. WALLER’S RETURN TRIP CARRYING MUCH FILM MELBOURNE, Oct. 29. Waller is taking to England 400 fl feet of film depicting the Duke’s arrival and the finish of the race, and pictures for London newspapers. RETURN FLIGHT WALLER AND JONES | PASSED OVER CALOUTTA Received Oct. 3(1, 1 a.m. CALCUTTA, Oct. 29. ■ Waller ami Jones flew over Calcutta at 3.35 p.m- heading for Allahabad. NEW ZEALAND TOUR the DOMINION AIRMEN. ( Per Press Association ). AUCKLAND, Oct. 29. Arrangements for a tour of the Dominion to be made by the two New Zealand crews entered for the centenary air race, with their machines, have been finalised. Details were discussed at the week-end by representatives of the New Zealand and Manawatu centenary air race committees which were responsible for the entries of Hewett and Kay and F. Stewart, of Auckland, and McGregor and Walker, of Manawatu, respectively. Mr. L \V. Swan, secretary of the New Zealand committee, said that the Auckland crew, which was held up at Cloncurry at present as a result of a mishap, would telephone Auckland on arrival, and make final arrangements for a transtasman flight. Originally it had been planned that they should arrive at Mangere at about 7 p.m. nu Thursday or Friday of this week, but the delay at Cloncurry might result in the flight being undertaken at. the week-end. with a day-time landing. The Miles Hawk entered from the Manawatu, would be shipped to Auckland by the Wanganella, which was due to leave Melbourne to-morrow, and Sydney on November 3. arriving at Auckland on November 6. The tour had been scheduled to commence from Auckland on November 9, and the itinerary, which had been tentatively fixed, included visits to all the principal centres in the North Island, and also calls at Christchurch. Hokitika and Neson in the South Island. The total cost of the Auckland entry is in the vicinity of £BOOO. and there is a liability of some £3OOO on the guarantors, who are well-known Auckland sportsmen. Mr. Swan said it wa* hoped, however, this sum would be recovered by the proceeds of the tour.