AERIAL DASH FROM ENGLAND

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 67, 21 March 1938, Page 8

AERIAL DASH FROM ENGLAND

CLOUSTON IN NEW ZEALAND

FAMOUS COMET ’PLANE AT BLENHEIM

SEVEN HOURS FOR TASMAN CROSSING

[ Per Press .-tatlor. 1 BLENHEIM. March 20. Completing the fastest journey ever made between England and New Zealand, the Dominion-bred R.A I'. airman. Mr. Houston, wiih an English journalist companion, Mr. Ricketts, landed in the famous Comet monoplane at Blenheim airport this afternoon 7 hours 10 minutes out from Sydney—a record for the Tasman crossing, and 4 days 8 hours 7 minutes from England. setting a new record, and slashing 6 days 18 hours odd off Miss Batten's solo time. Three thousand enthusiastic people gave the flyers a warm welcome when Mr. Houston brought down the machine to a perfect landing and taxied toward the hanger After a long, patient wait the people surged forward past the barriers as the 'plane approached and despite loud-speaker appeals it appeared as though the flyers would be mobbed, but he officials, police, firemen and territorials, who were swept ahead of the crowd, managed to join hands to form a cordon which kept all but the welcoming party at a safe distance.

Clouston had been expected an hour earlier, as he took-off from Sydney at 9.30 a.m. New Zealand time and averaging 200 mp.h., was expected at Blenheim in six hours. However, adverse conditions over the Tasman resulted in an hour's delay and the wheels touched the ground at 4.40 p.m.

Having made landfall at Mt. Egmont. the Comet came down the coast through Cook Strait and came into the airport from the direction of the sea. The rate at which she increased in size after being first sighted indicated her great turn of speed and as she swept past the excited crowd her ultra-stream lining and pace made her look like a greywinged bullet. The machine was already at a low altitude, but apparently with the intention of familiarisi/C himself with the field in view of the take-off on the return journey, Clouston made no fewer than six circuits before putting the Comet down. She had ample landing room, pulling up with more than half the runway to spare. As the crowd surged round the machine Clouston opened the roof of the cockpit and waved a cheery greeting. After conferring with the president of the Aero Club, Mr. MacNab, as to the housing of the Comet, he taxied the machine to the hangar, where it was soon safely accommodated under the watchful eyes of pickets. Being overseas arrivals, the flyers perforce had to undergo a medical and customs examin.-tion. This formality completed, they were escorted to a temporary dais, where a formal welcome was extended by Mr. Mac Nab, the Mayor of Blenheim, Mr. J. Stevenson, and Hon. R. Semple, who came specially from Kaikoura to represent the Government. Before mounting the dais Clouston was affectionately greeted by his mother, father, five sisters ind two brothers, most of whom came in a special ’plane from Nelson. This was one of four air liners and eleven Other visiting 'planes which had arlived following the announcement of Clouston's changed plans. Subsequently the flyers were entertained at the Aero Club’s house, where there was a happy family reunion and Clouston met many old friends.

Interviewed, the flyers said they er<perienced head winds practically throughout the whole trip from Engand this, with delays for refuelling and engine trouble at Basra made them eight hours behind Scott and Black’s record to Darwin. Unless everything went perfectly they said, that record was practically unassailable. Head winds again were experienced over the Tasman, together with hail and heavy rain, making the trip very uncomfortable. The machine had behaved splendidly. When they had set out from Gravesend they had had five records in mind and had broken those from London to Sydney and London to New Zealand. They hoped to break the New ZealandLondon, Sydney-London and the round trip. The flyers are remaining at Blenheim to-night and propose to takeoff to-morrow morning folloving a check-over of the machine, which is being undertaken by Cook Strait Airways ground staff. Clouston fixed the departure for three hours after daylight. SYDNEY ARRIVAL UNDER FOUR DAYS FROM ENGLAND. Received March 20, 6.30 p.m. SYDNEY. March 20. Clouston and Ricketts landed at Kingsford Smith Aerodrome, Mascot, at 3.16 p.m. on Saturday. The flight from England to Sydney occupied three days eight hours two minutes. Both 'drmen wore several days’ growth of beard and were obviously suffering from the prolonged strain of more than three days almost constant flying. SURPRISE AT SYDNEY FLIGHT TO N.Z. HAD BEEN CANCELLED Received March 20, 11.5 p.m. SYDNEY, March 20. Clouston’s departure for New Zealand this morning caused some surprise in Sydney, as the Daily Telegraph. which is sponsoring the flight, had stated that the Sydney-New Zealand portion of the flight was cancelled, and even yesterday published a radio-telephone conversation with Clouston’s mother in which she expressed disappointment when told her son had reluctantly decided that it was impossible in the time to make the New Zealand hop as he first in♦ended. Even the officials were in the

dark as Io his intentions. IJe had requested that the machine be made ready and the tanks filled for 6 this morning. When an oil company official asked him as he stepped into the machine when he expected to arrive at Darwin, Clouston said he was not going to Darwin but was going to Blenheim. The acting-editor of the Daily Telegraph stated to-night that Clouston found after his arrival at Sydney yesterday afternoon that it would be possible to continue to New Zealand. The Sunday Sun this morning said he would be returning to Darwin immediately. Some twenty people assembled at the aerodrome to witness his departure. It was evident when he turned east instead of north that he was going to New Zealand, not Darwin.