FLYING.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 21 October 1930, Page 5

FLYING.

SMITH AND MATTHEWS. DEPARTURE FROM DARWIN. Press Association Electric Telegraph—Copyright DARWIN, Monday. Kingsford Smith left at 6.30 this morning, and Matthews half an hour later. A number of local people farewelled the airmen, both of whom had excellent take-offs. Smith’s parting words were: “I do' not care whether Hinkler beats my record, I will not make a yearly event of it.” Speaking of his flight* Smith said that the most difficult portion was the Rangoon to Singapore section. At Singapore he landed under the most difficult conditions, aided by flares. From there everything went well. The ’plane behaved splendidly throughout. In the early stages of his flight to Australia, Smith saw the RIOI wreck, near Beauvais, and passed over it. He described it as a heart-breaking sight, and added, “I never liked gasbags.”

SMITH’S CHIVALRY. LONDON, Monday. The Press emphasises Kingsford Smith’s' chivalry in sacrificing time through, consideration for his unlucky rival. The “Daily Express” editorially says: “It was an act of sportsmanship entirely, in keeping with Kingsford Smith’s nerve, grit, modesty and generous camaraderie. Men do not act like that after nine clays’ consecutive flying at a crucial moment in a desperate struggle unless they have- the right stuff in them. The whole Empire hails this Ulysses of the air as not only a great aviator, but a great gentleman.” The newspapers give prominence to Kingsford Smith’s record. Major Turner, in the “Daily Telegraph,” says that as a feat of endurance and airmanship the flight stands amongst the greatest in history. “Neither lie nor Hill was in the best of health when they started, but determination carried them through. Kingsford Smith, apart from the fact that his machine was faster, was better fitted by experience for such an undertaking. The great achievement may not be repeated for a long time, but it brings closer a regular air service to Australia. The obstacles are formidable, unless the service is merely a short season affair. Tropical conditions present structural and motor problems not yet completely solved. ” A wireless telegram has been dispatched from Sandringham, requesting Lord Somers to convey the King’s, congratulations to Wing-Commander Kingsford Smith on his flight. Mrs Hill, in an interview, asked the journalist to congratulate Kingsford Smith on his splendid flight. QUESTION OF AN HONOUR. (Received: Tuesday, 10 a,m.) r \vMELBOURNE, This Day. Discussing the question of an honour for Kingsford Smith, Mr J. E. Fenton (Federal Minister), said that although the Labour Party was opposed to granting a knighthood it would be possible for the Imperial Government to advise the King to confer that honour on Smith. MATTHEWS’ PROGRESS. (Received Tuesday, 10.0 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Matthews arrived at Daly Waters at mid-day and proceeded to Caniooweal. YOUNG WOMAN KILLED. LONDON, Monday.

Irene Burnside, aged 21,' daughter of the Rev. Canon Burnside, headmaster of St. Edmund’s School, Canterbury, was killed at ijetling, near Maidstone, while on board a flying machine piloted by Dr. Reid, a well known flying amateur, who was taking Miss Burnside on a trial trip. The machine crashed in trees while se< king a .landing in mist. Dr. Reid is seriously hurt, with a fractured .skull. Detling is the scene of the death of Miss Gladys Grace.

(Miss Gladys Grace, who was the daughter of Admiral H. E. Grace, and grand-daughter of the cricketer, Dr. W. G. Grace, was with Naval Lieutenant Spencer, burned to death last July when their aeroplane nose-dived to the earth and burst into flames. Miss Grace had narrowly escaped death in the previous March, owing to her machine stalling at the top of a spin and descending spirally 2000 feet to the earth. The 1 aeroplane was wrecked, but Miss Grace was not seriously hurt.) MRS MILLER’S FLIGHT. NEW YORK, Monday. News from Winslow (Arizona) states that Mrs Miller completed the first leg of her west to east transcontinental flight from Los Angeles on Sunday. In landing she damaged a wheel and damaged the tail skid of her plane. (Mrs Miller is attempting to break the record of Miss Laura Ingalls, the first woman to make the flight.) WILL RESUME TO-MORROW. (Received Tuesday, 5.30 a.m.) NEW YORK, Monday. A message from Winslow (Arizona) states that Mrs Miller expects to resume her flight on Wednesday. A new wheel must be brought from Los Angeles'. RESCUE OF MRS BRUCE. RUGBY, Monday. Details have reached England of the experience of Mrs Victor Bruce, the Englishwoman, who recently set- out in a single-seater machine on a flight to

Japan. Mi's Bruce made good progress until after leaving Busliire, when she encountered a violent sandstorm. She attempted to land on what seemed hard sand, but sank into it and overturned, Baluchi tribesmen -appeared on the scene and seemed hostile, but she made friends with them by interesting them in an alarm clock and by dancing and singing to them. After some nights in the desert, living on water and dates given by the tribesmen, she persuaded the chief to send a message to Jask, 40 miles distant, and three Englishmen came to her assistance. The Englishmen mended the machine, and Mrs Bruce flew into Jask with one of them, Wilson, an Imperial Air engineer.