FLIGHT RESUMED

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 126, 25 February 1928, Page 9

FLIGHT RESUMED

HINKLER LEAVES DARWIN FOR BUNDABERG GOVERNMENT INVITATION TO VISIT CANBERRA WORLD-WIDE TRIBUTES TO AIRMAN’S SKILL AND COURAGE Hinkler left Darwin for Bundaberg yesterday. The Federal Prime Minister announced in Parliament that the Government had invited the airman to visit Canberra, where his splendid achievement would be suitably recognised. Hinkler’s skilful and courageous flight continues to excite the admiration of the world.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright.

(Rec. February 25, 10.20 p.m.) Darwin, February 25. Hinkler resumed his journey to Bundaberg at seven o’clock this morning. He will stay at Camooweal to-night and finish his flight to-morrow. Subsequently he will fly to Melbourne, via Canberra. Negotiations are proceeding for a visit to Sydney en route to Melbourne. Interviewed, Hinkler stated that he may take up commercial flying in Australia if an opening offers. INVITATION TO CANBERRA GOVERNMENT RECOGNITION OF GREAT FLIGHT (Rec. February 25, 10.20 p.m.) Canberra, February 25. In the House of Representatives, Mr. S. M. Bruce, amidst applause from all parties, announced that. the. Government had decided to invite Hinkler to visit Canberra and there present him with a cheque for £2OOO as well as a memento of his great flight. The Prime Minister paid a glowing tribute to Hinkler’s achievement, which the Leader of the Opposition fully endorsed. SUBSCRIPTION LISTS OPENED (Rec. February 25, 10.20 p.m.) Sydney, February 25. The newspapers have opened subscription lists towards a fund for the recognition of Hinkler’s achievement. It' is reported in Melbourne that a theatrical firm has offered the airman £lO,OOO for his services for six months. He has also received other •. HINKLER’S FLYING RECORD “ONE OF MANY NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS” ITS PRACTICAL SIGNIFICANCE Rugby, February 23. Experts here calculate that Hinkler’s actual flying time on his remarkable England-Australia flight was approximately 180 hours. His little Avro 'Avian machine has a cruising 'speed of about 80 to 90 miles an hour, and his four-cylinder Cirrus engine, although of but 30 horse-power, is capable of developing 80. The engine gave not the slightest trouble, and did not even miss once throughout the journey, and was running as sweetly after its 11,000 miles as before it started. But One of Many Notable Achieve" ments. This is not the only notable achievement to Hinkler’s credit. His flying experience ranges over every type of aeroplane. He was the first to fly the famous Cubarro, the largest ’plane in the world, driven by a single 1000 horsepower engine. He has piloted 200 miles per hour fighters, Schneider trophy racing craft, the experimental auto, gyro windmill machine, and the small

est light aeroplanes. He has a special affection for these last. It was in a Baby ’plane that lie flew when last in Australia 500 miles to Bundaberg, and alighted before his father’s front door. In the same machine he later flew nonstop from London to Turin, and the little machine used in the present flight was the same which lie recently used on a non-stop journey from London to Riga. Hinkler’s consummate skill and daring are warmly praised by the Press, and a tribute is paid to his modesty, which adds an additional note of triumph to his success. Practical Significance of Flight. Discussing the practical importance of the flight, the newspapers recognise that it will raise new problems of modifications in design which will permit such machines carrying pasengers and some load. The “Manchester Guardian,’’ while believing that distant air travel of the future will be by airship, and recognising that good fortune in the matter of weather favoured Hinkler, says his distinction is to have brought the flight, to Australia down to the level of ordinary everyday commercial traffic. The “Daily News” says: “It has brought perceptibly nearer the realisation of a regular system of air communications between the distant parts of the world.” The “Daily Telegraph” says: “The reputation of the light aeroplane is thoroughly established by this flight for all purposes of ordinary travel.’” “The Times” says Hinkler’s exploit was concerned not so much with the discovery of possible mechanical improvements in aeroplanes and their engines as with proving what can be done with a type of aircraft already in common use and costing in the open market only £7OO. "By completing the journey at a total running cost for fuel of about £5O he has shown—as FlightLieutenant Bentley showed by his journey in a Moth aeroplane to the Cape and Captain Neville Stack and Mr. Bernard Leete in their earlier light aeroplane flight to India—that world’s journeys by air are within reach of men of a sporting turn of mind, without prohibitive capital expenditure, provided only that they have the necessary qualifications as pilots. More than anything else he has opened the eyes of the public to the possibility of establishing an air mail to Australia.”—British Official Wireless. “THIS COURAGEOUS, SKILFUL BRITISH AIRMAN” AN AMERICAN TRIBUTE (Rec. February 25, 8.20 p.m.) Washington, February 23. Mr. Trubee Davison, Assistant Secretary of War, says the* economy of air travel is demonstrated by Hinkler’s flight. “This courageous, skilful British airman flew twelve thousand miles in fifteen days at a cost of about two cents a mile. There is really nothing further to say. The facts and figures sptak for themselves.” FRENCH PRESS COMMENT Paris, February 23. The “Petit Parisien” says that Hinkler’s flight provides interesting information regarding low-powered aviation. The “Echo de Paris” declares that it assuredly contributes to the launching of airpianettes.—A.P.A. and “Sun.”