FLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 15, 13 October 1919, Page 5

FLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA

A SEVERE TEST

AIR AUTHORITIES CHARGED WITH LUKEWARMNESS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. Ocotber 12,' ll.fi p.m.) London, October 11. The flight to Australia will entail for some of the competitors an average of five hours daily in the air for a, month. Permission to substitute new engines for those used at the 6tart came too late to allow of the shipment of duplicates to India, therefore the whole machine, engine and wings, must -be otni.il to a final trans-ocean ilight of 1700 miles, after 25 to 28 days in the air, with such inadequate overhauling: as will be obtainable on the route, which is destitute of aerodromes from Delhi to Bandong, the penultimate landing point, yhere a small Dutch military station will help with whatever resources it possesses. The "Pall Mall Gazette" says that the question uppermost with competitors is whether the Royal Air Force nnd civil aviation authorities between them have risen to the occasion. The "Gazette" says that the English Air authorities from the beginning have appeared lukewarm.' Admittedly, when months ago one or two competitors announced their intention of making a pell-mell dash for "Australia the whole business required regularising. There were no arrangements of any kind along the route. This involved a needlew risk of life, and -Mr. Hughes breathed much more freely when the Air Ministry intervened. What competitors now object to is that the Ministry ever since has followed a policy full of minor obstructiveness. One or two believe that (he placing of so many impediments in the way is due to the Royal Air Force resenting the limitation of competition to Australian-born airmen. It'is declared that signs of lukewarmness were evident in relation to securing Hying rights over foreign countries,_ promises 'of help, arrangemfcnts for landing places, anrt supplies of' oil.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

TRANS-AMERICA AIR RACEJ, ( PROGRESS OF THE COMPETITORS. Washington, October 10. Maynard is leading tho airmen bound east. He has arrived at Cheyenne, Wyoming. The men bound west have arrived at Ohio.—Am.-N;Z. Cable Assn. FIVE OF FIFTY CONTESTANTS KILLED. <Rec. October 12, 11.5 p.m.) i San Francisco, October ;ll',_ •.'Lieutenant Maynard, armv chaplain. is expected to .arrive hourly from/ New York, completing the trans-continental flight. Already five of the fifty contestants have been, killed.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable A6sn. . ' ' MAYNARD ARRIVES AT SAN FRANCISCO. (Rcc. October 12, 11.35 p.m.) San Francisco, October 11. Lieutenant Maynard has arrived, completing the trans-continental fllglii. His actual flying time was 2701 mile:! in 24 hours 52 minutes 55! seconds. The flight occupied only l three days. The return flight will be commenced within a week. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FATAL CRASH ON MOUNTAIN TOP. San Francisco, October 10. Lieutenant .Walls, while taking part in the trans-continental flight, struck a mountain top i.n Wyoming during a snowstorm and received fatal injuries.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

RECORD STRUGGLE AGAINST A GALE

Halifax, October 10. A Handley Page trans-Atlantic aeronlnne, piloted by Admiral Kerr, while •"i the way-to New York on-a. non-stop flight, was compelled to land at Greenm>rt, Long Island. The aeroplane, with eleven passengers on . board, • fought

against a. forty-mile gale for eighteen hours, a world's record for such work, ft landed undamaged in order to 'procure more .petrol.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. americanmTseryices ' FLIGHT TO ALASKA CONTEMPLATED. Washington,, October 10. The Senate Military Committee voted to recommend that three, millions sterling additional should be allocated for .army aircraft, with a view to the ultimate establishment of aircraft services to Alaska during tho winter. It is anticipated that a (light across Canada to Alaska will bo attempted in order to demonstrate the success or failure of cold weather flying. BrigadierGeneral Mitchell believes that tho ultimate extension'of the service to Asia will bo comparatively simple.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. >-