PLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 212, 2 June 1920, Page 7

PLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA

DARING ATTEMPT BY AN AUSTRALIAN. London, May 31. Pilot Hincklor left Croydon on a Baby Avro at 4.50 this morning, in an attempt to fly to Australia—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. v

(Eee. June 1, 5.J p.m.) ' London, May. 31. Mr. Hincltler, who is an Australian, was debarred from competing for the ,£IO,OOO prize in a Sopwith machine on the ground that his scheme involved too many risks. Ho has been connected with tho Avro works at Southampton for some time, and lias never abandoned Lis intention to attempt- an Australian flight He has now started as a sporting venture, hoping to be tho first man to reach Australia in a single-seater aeroplane. A ba'by Arvo won the sealed handicap in thv Aerial Derby. It has a rango of 200 miles, and flies at from 70 to 80 miles an hour, using a Green ongino of 35 horse-power.

It is a most daring proposition to attempt to cross large stretches of water in such a 'bus, link Hinckler is a bit of a sport, and believes he will reach Australia eventually. He left Waddon aerodrome in excellent weather.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. (Rcc. June 1, 0 p.m.) London, Juno 1. Mr. Hinclder fitted extra petrol tanks to the Baby Avro, and hopes thus to obtain eight to ten hours' continuous flight. Ho dees not expect to get beyond Egypt at present, owing to the prevalent unrest in Syria and Mesopotamia. Mr. Hinckler hoped to reach Rome on the first day, going via Paris,- Lyons, and Genoa. If uuablo to fly over Syria he will make a leisurely tour'into Central Africa—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. [Mr. Bert Hinckler is a native of Bundaberg, Queensland, and enlisted in September, 1914, in the Naval Air Service, shortly afterwards qualifying as a pilot. It was announced a year ago that lie intended to fly to Australia, and that' he hoped to do the journey in seventeen days. Mr. Hinckler saw much service on tho Italian front, and -was awarded tho Distinguished Service Medal and a commission.] ITALIAN AIRMEN ARRIVE AT TOKIO. (Rec. June 1, 10.5 p.m.) Tokio, May; 31. Lieutenants Nasiero and Forrari, the Italian aviators, bave completed their flight from Rome, arriving at Tokio to-day—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.