TO AUSTRALIA

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 141, 10 March 1920, Page 7

TO AUSTRALIA

A FLIGHT SUGGESTED TASK FOR NEW ZEALAND AIRMAN "It's up to New Zealand," is a remark reported to have been made in Sydney last week by one of Australia's distinguished airmen, in the course of a dismission regarding the possibilities of a flight across the Tasman Sen. New Zenland is separated from Australia by 1200 miles of water, and this distance' could he covered ill a single flight of from twelve to fifteen hours. The crossing would be.a simple matter compared with the trans-Atlantic flight made by Alcock and Brown last year. Machines canablo of this sustained flight are available, in Britain to-day, and New Zealand has dozens of trained airmen, some of whom, doubtless, would be prepared to bid for fame by undertaking a flight to Australia. An Australian airman has flown, by stages, from Britain to the Commonwealth, and if no New Zealander takes the air in time, an Australian will be the first to fly across the Tasman Sea. Two main obstacles stand in the way of a New Zealander attempting this flight. The first is the high cost, of the venture, and the second is the lack of official backing. The big flights recently made, such as the trans-Atlantic flight and the flight to Australia, were financed by companies engaged in the manufacture of aeroplanes. No company has yet extended its interest to the crossing of the Tasman Sea. An individual airman who undertook to fly from, say, Wellington to 'Sydney would liavo to spend several, thousand pounds on the purchase of a suitable machine, the erection of a hangar, tho employment of mechanics, test flights, and so forth. Some eavjiig could he effected by making use of ex-' isting facilities in Auckland or Christchurchy The stationing of ships at certain points en route in case of accident could be dispensed with, though it would be nn important safeguard against disaster.

Lack of official backing does not mean that the Government would be unsympathetic towards an airman who essayed the flight. But the Air' Branch of 'the Defence Department lias not yet come into existence. The Government owns several aeroplanes, and.it has- appointed one flying officer, who'is stationed at Christchurch, but an organisation to correspond fcj the British Air-'Force has yet to be_ created. In the absence of this organisation, an airman who wished to cross to Australia would be at a disadvantage as compared with the Australians, who have had the active and hearty support of the Flying Branch of the' Australian Defence Forces.

It appears, therefore, that if a New Zealander is to win for his country the honour of the first flight across the Tas. man_ Sea, some person or persons must provide the necessary financial backing. There will be no difficulty about finding a pilot., But the young New Zealanders who joined the Air Force during the war, and who have .since returned to their own country, are not in a position to make the flight at their own expense. Tho offer of a substantial prize by the New Zealand Government might stimulate effort.

The flight from New Zealand to Australia could be made by stages, stops being possible at Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island. But a direct flight is practicable,- and probably would present fewer difficulties in the end. The islands are small, and the uncertain weather conditions of the Tasman Sea would make it difficult for an airman to lay an exact course. A small error in direction, on the other hand, would, not be a 6erious matter for a pilot whose goal was the continent of Australia. The flight would be reduced to a minimum distance if the airman started from some suitable point ,in Southland and steered for Tasmania, but there would be an important advantage in following one of the regular steamei routes. • ■