FLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 50, 22 November 1919, Page 7

FLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA

BLACKBURN AEROPLANE READY SATISFACTORY TRIAL TRIP (By Telecraph-Press Association-Cosyrielit (Eec. November 21, 5.20 p.m.) London, -November 20. The , Blackburn aeroplane Kangaroo flew from the 'Jrough aerodrome, lien)' Hull, and arrived at Hounslow in 2J hours, in readiness to start for Australia on Thursday. Lieutenant. W Rcndle, who piloled the aeroplane, considers tho tests thoroughly satisfactory. Liouteiant Reudle, who is the son of a Brisbane doctor, served as .a pilot in th? Flying Corps in France. Captain Wilkins," who commands and navigates (ho aeroplane, was awarded the; Military Cross,.with a bar, for daring work as an Australian official photographer, lie. was,a correspondent with the Turkish Army-in the last Balkan war, and second in command in Stefansson's Arctic Expedition. Captain Wilkins intends to go to Antarctica with Dr. Cope's Expedition in 1920. Lieutenant 1). I!-. Williams, formerly instructor at the Tiichmoud Flying School, goes as second pilot, and Lieutenant G. H. .Bolts, whose father is principal at Hawkt'sbury Agricultural College, gpes as meehauk'. Lieulenant Potts ivas formerly a member of the Third Australian Flying Squadron. Kangaroos during the war were developed for long-range bombing, and also did good service on the east coast, patrolling for submarines. The machines were later iised for the carriage of mails; and were fitted with twin Ttolls-l?oyce Falcon engines. Captain Wilkins- is dispensing with wireless apparatus owinc do its weight. The route will be across Fiance to Homo, Malta, Ihe African coast, liamleh,. Karachi, Calcutta, Singapore, Darwin, Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne. Tho raaelnnG is armed almost like a war machins, all the crew earning rifles— Aus.N.Z. Cable Assii.