Thank you for correcting the text in this article. Your corrections improve Papers Past searches for everyone. See the latest corrections.

This article contains searchable text which was automatically generated and may contain errors. Join the community and correct any errors you spot to help us improve Papers Past.

Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image

The Dominion FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1928. A GREAT AERIAL FEAT

The splendid annals of British airmanship have been further enhanced by the feat accomplished by Captain Hinkler in flying from England to Australia. Allowing for the difference in meridian times the journey was accomplished in almost exactly fifteen days, and with an almost incredible minimum of expense and trouble. Hinkler beat his own schedule time by three days, and, by thirteen days, the time taken by Sir Ross Smith and Sir Keith Smith when they did the flight in 1919 in a huge Vickers bombing machine. From the experience of the latter flight. British aviation authorities drew certain lessons. The worst troubles of the Smiths were in finding suitable places for landing and taking off. In some instances a whole crowd of men were required to manoeuvre the machine after landing, and prior to taking off. From these experiences it seemed to aviation experts that in the mapping-out of Imperial air routes much expense and trouble would be involved in, providing suitable landing places. Hinkler has now given us an entirely new perspective of the future. With a device of his own invention, by this time thoroughly tested by experience, he has not only flown his machine singlehanded, but also has been able to handle it when landing and talcing off without any kind of assistance. Further, he has accomplished the journey for less than the price of a single steamer ticket from London to Australia. 'That this feat will point the way to interesting developments there can be little doubt. British airmanship now has a series of notable achievements to its credit. Amongst these is the pioneer crossing of the Atlantic, and the winning of the Schneider Cup at Venice last year, to say nothing of the remarkable ascendancy we achieved in the air during the war. In all of these much more than is perhaps realised by the average hero-worshipper is due to the fine craftsmanship of British engineering. Hinkler, we are told, flew an ordinary standard 30 h.p. machine, which he had previously used in aerial tours over England and Europe. During the whole of the Australian flight no engine trouble occurred, and no adjustments were required. These facts, of course, redound equally to the credit of the airman. Obviously, he was an excellent mechanic as well as an expert airman and navigator, and knew how to get the best out of his machine. In fact, it could be said with truth that every factor essential to the success df the flight registered one hundred per cent, efficiency, demonstrating to others who may be tempted to follow Hinkler’s trail that both man and machine must measure up to the requisite standard.

At the present time privately-owned machines of the type in which Hinkler “hopped over” from England to Australia, to see his people, are flying all over the United Kingdom, Europe, America, and to a limited extent over parts of Australia. We have nothing of that in this country, and we may never have unless and until someone makes a beginning. The appearance of the first motor-car in New Zealand is well within the memory of the present generation. To-day there are comparatively few families who cannot boast of at least “something” on -wheels. We hpve become a motoring country. Why should we not, by the same process of familiarisation, become a flying country? Hinkler’s machine, it is stated, cost £675. At that price, flying is not likely to become a general pastime, but there should at least he enough of it to create a national air sense, and we ought to have that if we are to keep abreast of the times.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19280224.2.40

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 125, 24 February 1928, Page 8

Word count
Tapeke kupu
616

The Dominion FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1928. A GREAT AERIAL FEAT Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 125, 24 February 1928, Page 8

The Dominion FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1928. A GREAT AERIAL FEAT Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 125, 24 February 1928, Page 8

Help

Log in or create a Papers Past website account

Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.

By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.

Log in with RealMe®

If you’ve used a RealMe login somewhere else, you can use it here too. If you don’t already have a username and password, just click Log in and you can choose to create one.


Log in again to continue your work

Your session has expired.

Log in again with RealMe®


Alert