NEW AIR CONTEST
FLIGHT OVER AFRICA RACE FROM CAIRO TO THE CAPE UNHERALDED START By Tolesraph-Press Association-Copyright London, Febr.nry 5. Preparations for a flight from Cairo to tho Cape have been conducted \ ith gieat secrecy. It is now known that three aeroplanes have started, including that of Captain Broome and Captain Cockeril. who left Brooklands in January lit, Hying a Viekcrs-Yimv, and are ivpoiic-d to have reached Heliupohs, Colonel Van Eyneveld and Lieutenant Jirand, who .".re also aboard a Viekers machine identical with that of Sir lioss Smith, left Biooklinds yesterday. Liouloilani-s F. S. Cotton and XV. A. Townsend, both Australians, in a .Dlll-1, started from Hendon yt.sterday, and left Lympe this, morning. It is understood that Major. Brackley is almost ready to start aboard a ilnndley-Pnge—Aus.-N.Z. Cable A*sn. GREAT SECRECY OBSERVED FATALITY AMONG AUSTRALIANS' CHEW. (lice. February 6, 3.25 p.m.) London, February 5. lit order to secure secrecy in connection with the Cairo-to-Cape 'light, Hie firms concerned obtained '.emission for a Customs clearance from their own aerodromes, consequently tho Press was kept in the dark regarding tho ('nte of departure. The secrecy - \as such that it only transpired this nfternoon thatMajor Brackley's Handley-l'age. ; r.achino actually departed a week ago, whereas it was generally understood that his preparations were not yet complete, Information has leaked"out that the machine has left Brindisi for Oiiro.
Lieutenant Townsend is a West Australian, who joined the Australian Flying Corps as an engineer, lie held a high reputation for his skill, soon eecured his wings, and his' commission followed. Lieutenant Townsend, who. v,as recently essigned to another service, successfully mado an eleventh-hour ippeal for cancellation in order' to participate in tho flight. Lieutenant >'otton _is a Qucenslander, who has served in- tho Royal Naval Air Service'since 1915. Hn invented the so-called Sidcof. ■•■nc-piece flying suit. Both officers, sec-tired their discharge in England. Lieutenant Cotton H employed as a pilot for tho Airco concern, and Lieutenant Townsend as technical adviser for the Napier firm. Both hopo to fly. from South Africa, after tho completion of the flight, but in the event of scarcity of petrol intend (u biing tho machine hont'.> by steamer and later proceed to Australia Lieutenant Cotton contemplated participating in the Australian flight, but was unable to complete his preparations in time. He also discussed entering for the projected'trans-Pacific, fliylit, which was suljsenuently abandoned. Major Braekley/was the pilot ohosen to fly a Ilandloy-Page machine- in ihe fransAtlnritic flight, but returned to England after the success of'the VieKors machine.
All the pilot* engaged in Ihe- Capo flight have much war service and many decorations. With the exception of tho De Haviiland machine all carried two mechanics in. addition to two pilots. Colonel Van Rynoveld in a liasnn officer between the Air Ministry and South Africa. Lieut. .Brand is a nephew of the late President, of the Orange Free Stale. In connection with the receipt of news that a member of the. crew of the Australians' De Havillnhd machine, Rigger A. Stolen, was killed in Italy, it is jointed out that, tho machino it) of tho most modern typo, equipped with a NapicrLyon -}50 horse-power engine, and was built, under Lieutenant; Townsend's personal supervision.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ' PROGRESS OF FIRST MACHINE; (Rec. February G, 11.-15 p.m.) London, February G. Captains Broome and Cockeril leavo Heliopolis at. 10 o'clock in tho morning and hopo to reach Wndy Haifa to-night. —Aus.-NfZ. Cablo Assn. INTERNATIONAL RIVALRY ITALY'AND FRANCE CONTEST' . BRITISH SUPREMACY. (Rec. February G, 11.30 p.m.) London, February 5. Th« honour of first achieving the Qiiro-to-Cape flight has been the subject of keen, international rivr.lry. Italy and France are particularly. anxious to deprive Britain of her premier position in long-distanco Hying, and ravo made strenuous efforts to secure cdvanco information in reference to Britain's survey of the route and arrangements for landing, etc., but the information was kept a c'ose secret miti) everything was in readiness for the flight.
The rivalry-amongst British firms is eoually keen". Captain Broome was the first to get., away, but bis subsequent progress was kent a secret until he reached Cairo. Meanwhile "preparations for the departure of the second Yiclcors machine, financed by tho South African Government, which purchased the p.croplane, were being rapidly mid secretly pushed forwanl.-Aus.-N.;?. Cable Assn. Australian" flight POULET'S SECOND START. London, Februarv 5. It is reported from Paris that Poulet will resume his flight to Australia in tho now machine from Marseilles to-morrow. —Ans.-N.Z. Cable Assn.[According to a messogo. received three days before'the above, the aviator Poulet, who returned to Franco owing to the machine on which he began his flight to Australia being irrepairable, was to leave Marseilles on Monday for Rangoon, where a new machine awaits him.]
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Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 114, 7 February 1920, Page 7
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780NEW AIR CONTEST Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 114, 7 February 1920, Page 7
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