French Are Interested In Air Race

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 16, Issue 31, 11 December 1950, Page 6

French Are Interested In Air Race

The French aviation pundits are of the opinion that they should take an interest in the proposed air race from London to Christchurch, arranged for 1953. Well, let them all come, but fast air'transit is rapidly reaching a stage where whoever is prepared to spend the most money is fairly cei’tain to win. The pioneer days are over. Even in 1934 it was proved that a three-day flight between England and Melbourne was. possible. After World War II aiktravel companies were planning three-day flights between Britain and New Zealand. With a little luck it is now possible for a letter to arrive in Britain in just over three days by normal methods. In theory New Zealand is now within 27 hours’ actual flying time of London. A 40-hour trip should be commonplace in a few years. If there is to be an air race from Britain to New Zealand in 1953 let us hope that it will be really fast. Spectators who could see the start, catch a passenger plane and arrive to see the finish would only be proving that the race served very little purpose. Just how fast the journey could be made is still open to argument. If money were no object possibly the time could be cut to 24 hours. This would be beyond the purse of private competitors whose minimum fuel bill for the trip will be in the vicinity of £4OO for quite small types of aircraft. If the truth *were known, it is probable that we have reached a phase in aviation where privately-owned aircraft are too slow and too costly for long distance racing.