A NEW ZEALAND TRIUMPH.

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19399, 27 October 1934, Page 6

A NEW ZEALAND TRIUMPH.

Local interest in the progress of the Centenary Air Race has received a great stimulus from the intimation that Squadron-Leader McGregor and Mr Walker are now winging their way southwards to Melbourne, after having touched on Australian soil at Darwin early yesterday morning. As an old Hamilton boy, Squadron-Leader McGregor has claimed a particular interest for residents of the Waikato, and also of the Manawatu, where he has been more recently engaged; and these districts will share a thrill of conscious pride in his achievement. ,

Flying a light machine —one of the smallest entered in the race —the two New Zealanders have gained a good place in the speed section of the race. They are expected to reach Melbourne to-day, and in that event they will finish fifth. In the handicap section their prospects are even brighter. Their time from Mildenhall to Darwin was only five days 15£ hours, a record for a small machine, which also eclipses the record established a year ago by Flight-Lieutenant Ulm in the Faith in Australia.

The chief permanent value of the flight of these two pilots lies in the vindication they have provided of the merits of the small machine. Compared with the De Havilland Comet and the Dutch cruiser, the Miles Hawk monoplane is a mere midget, but it stands as a fair representative of the average machine in civil use in New Zealand and other countries where aviation has not reached the high degree of development shown in Britain, America and Holland. The race for the New Zealanders -has been a gruelling experience, calling for high qualities of endurance. That endurance, however, has been shown by men and machine alike.

Not only in New Zealand, but throughout the world, the keenest interest is being shown in the progress of Squadron-Leader McGregor and his companion. It is not an exaggeration to say that the whole world is wishing them a speedy and successful arrival. If they should prove to be the winners in the handicap section —and their chances are very bright —their success will be one of the most popular features of the race.