AERIAL MISHAPS.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17983, 31 March 1930, Page 7

AERIAL MISHAPS.

THE CITY OF SYDNEY. FORCED TO DESCEND. LANDING IN WILD COUNTRY. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel.—Copyright. SYDNEY, March 30. An unfortunate occurrence has interrupted the flight to England of Messrs D. Smith and H. W. Sillers in tlie monoplane City of Sydney. The airmen were within about 50 miles ol' Wyndham when they were forced to land, in wild country beside the Ord River. The fliers managed to find a stretch of hard, barren ground,' and came down without damaging their, machine. Their wireless installation was working efficiently, and they were able to report tho mishap. . The airmen were not hurt. A message received through Amalgamated Wireless says the monoplane should he seen easily from the air. The two men. have emergency rations sufficient to last them several days. It is believed that the forced landing was made on the Carlton reach of the Ord River, between Ivatihoe and Argyle Downs, south-east of Wyndham. LATER. A SHORTAGE OF FOOD. MANY SEARCH PARTIES OUT. APPEAL FROM THE AIRMEN. United Press Assn. —Elcc. Tel. —Copyright. (Received March 31, 9.15 a.m.) SYDNEY, March 31. Lalest advices from Wyndham concerning the ’ City of Sydney airmen, are disquieting. In a message from the plane at two o’clock yesterday afternoon, Messrs Smith and Shiers obviously indicated that they were considering a dash for the nearest station. At that period their food was low, but water was plentiful. As the machine carries , no receiving set the airmen do not know whether their messages are being- received. Many search parties are out, one since 3.15 p.m. on Saturday, and another from daylight on Sunday. A posse from Wyndham returned and reported having gone 30 miles past the -spot where the, men were supposed to have landed. Wyndham received a wireless from the plane at 6.15 p.m. yesterday, staling that the airmen's batteries were low, and they appealed for food to be sent immediately. Healey’s party, which has returned, searched the east side of the Ord River. Observation is difficult in a motor car owing to the long grass. A party has been sent to search the other'side on horseback. Healey thinks that an aeroplane will he necessary to locate the position. A FORCED LANDING. THROUGH ENGINE TROUBLE. United Press A~s.n.— mw.. Tel —Copyright. BRISBANE, March 30. Flying Officers Piper and Kay landed at Longreaeh yesterday afternoon. They had a good trip from Winton. The airmen left Longreaeh this morning, in continuation of the flight to Sydney, hut engine trouble developed, and they were forced to land three miles out from the town. They .worked all day on the engine, which was dismantled. They expect to -complete the overhaul to-night, and to resume the journey to-morrow and to arrive at Sydney on Wednesday. WOMAN FLIER CRASHES. A MIRACULOUS ESCAPE. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel.—Copyright. LONDON, March 29. Miss Gladys Grace, aged 26, a grand-daughter of the famous cricketer, W. G. Grace, who is an enthusiastic airwoman, had a miraculous escape when her machine stalled at the lop of a loop. It developed a spin, and fell in a spiral for 2000 feet to the earth. The crash wrecked the engine, which was buried six feet in the ground. Miss Grace was found unconscious in the cockpit. Her only injury was a cut on her forehead. N.Z. AEROPLANE CRASHES. PILOT SLIGHTLY INJURED. MASTERTON, Sunday. An Avro-Avian aeroplane owned by Mr A. V. Jury, of Patawai, Gre-ytown, crashed on Saturday when landing at Willowbarn, the properly of the airman. Mr Jury had some teeth knocked out when thrown against the windscreen. He otherwise escaped injury.