FLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 7, 3 October 1919, Page 7

FLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA

POULET STARTS 7 MAGNITUDE OF TASK REVIEWED l By Telegraph—Press ABsociation-Copyrieht (ltee. October 2, 8.10 p.m.) London, October 2./ l'oulct has started on his flight to Australia. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. [General Borton and Captain Ross Smith, who have returned from tho Dutch East Indies (whew they have been surveying tiie air route/, declare that a flight Co Australia under existing conditions is almost impossible (states tho London representative of the Sydney "Sun"). The difficulties are unimaginable to anybody who has not covered the route beforehand. A'complete examination of tho coast-lines was niado from India to l'or't lfarwin aboard tho Indian Marine steamer Minto. .Numerous landing places were revealed, but in most instances apparently ideal landing; places, which from the air would resemble huge" aerodromes, were simply grass-covered coral rock, a euro lure for airmen in difficulties. The lust .stage of 1500 miles from Banaong (on the west coast of Java) rentiers petrol the most, important consideration, as a descent would' mean an eleventh-hour failure. "L think," says Captain Ross Smith, "that if it is made this year tho flight will easily be tho biggest task undertaken to date." The expedition's first ship, Sphinx, • carried petrol and stoics, intended for tho subsequent inspection"'of the route from the . air, but the vessel blew up at Chitagong (Bengal), and everything was lost. A month later (on March 11) tho Minlo sailed, tho flight idea having been abandoned. Tho coasts of Burma and Singaporo were closely examined. They were thickly covered with jungle inland, and were often swampy near tho sea. Natural landing places wcro invisible,and machines coming down would ccr- | tainly crash. The islands beyond Java were rocky and thickly covered with undergrowth. A pilot undertaking this section of the flight must be tremendously'skilful, The Dutch authorities at Java were most helpful, and' are eagerly I anticipating the flight, as they recognised its usefulness to them as well as • to Australia. Tho Dutch-expressed their willingness to fit up ft-wireless station, and provide boats to ,pick up tho aviators. General Borton points out that tho' (light involves at least 120 hours, and perhaps 150 hours, actual flying. A grievous strain would thus be involved for both pilot and ongine, and it would ba practically, .impossible for a eLngle pilot and a single engine to cover the 'route in 30 days. Three aerodromes'are availablfe beyond India. 'fluwe at- Rangoon and > Singaporo are both situated on tree-surrounded racecourses, whero .no airman could safely descend without pre-, viously seeing them from tho ground. Bandong possesses a real aerodrome and other advantages. If the Air Ministry can be persuaded to join tho Dutch in constructing two or three. 6mall aerodromes, tho success of the flight would be better assured. This would involve a delay of three months. Good meteorological conditions endure to tho end V>f February, but "north-easterlies Wow thon all: the way," says General Borton.]