“THE FLYING FLEA”

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 102, 24 January 1935, Page 9

“THE FLYING FLEA”

Aeroplane Marketable at £lOO FRENCHMAN’S CLAIM By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received January 23, 8.25 p.m.) London, January 23. The "Daily Telegraph’s” aviation correspondent says that a Frenchman, M. Mignet, claims to have devised an aeroplane marketable at £lOO. He calls it tlie “Flying Flea.” He has made many cos-country flights at 100 miles an hour, consuming four gallons of petrol an hour. MOLLISON’S PLAN Flight Into Stratosphere (Received January 23, 7..10 pan.) London, January 23. Mr. J. Mollison states his stratosphere flight attempt will probably be made in America during the summer. Mrs. Mollison is not accompanying him, as there is no reason for two to make this flight. LACK OF FACILITIES Night Flying, in Australia Lord Sempill, chairman of the aeronautical section of tlie London Chamber of Commerce, will leave Sydney on a 10,000 miles flight to Great Britain, through tlie Dutch East Indies and tlie Strait Settlements, in the near future. In an interview at Sydney recently he deprecated the absence of night flying facilities in Australia and the inadequate mapping of air routes. “Accurate maps of Australia are badly needed,” said Lord Sempill. "At the moment they do not exist except in one or two small places around the coast. Whatever line of development the Government takes, maps are an essential, and I hope it will not be long before a comprehensive plan for the accurate mapping of the Commonwealth will be put in band. From the point of view of air navigation, it is most essential. At present navigation except to the experienced regular Australian air line pilots is very difficult. “Another matter that I am glad to hear is going ahead is tlie night lighting of the principal aerodromes and the provision of night beacons as well as wireless equipment for navigation between tlie principal aerodromes. After ail, flying must be put as quickly as possible on a 24-lionr basis, as is the case with other means of transport, such as shipping, railways and automobiles. It is very surprising to notice that night flying has been developed so very little in Australia. I think lam right in saying that the Sydney aerodrome at Mascot—obviously one of the most important aerodromes in the Commonwealth —has not adequate facilities for night flying. That is a state of affairs that cannot be allowed to contiiiue. As a visitor, I would say respectfully that it is very surprising to me to find a city of the importance of Sydney, where the people believe in the value of transport, having an aerodrome which cannot be used for night work.

“My Hight since I was here recently,” added Lord Sempill, “has embraced Queensland and New’ Guinea, and has been exceedingly interesting. L have been able to study, at first han", the organisation of Qantas Empire Airways and also New Guinea Airways, as well as of the aero clubs of Sydney and Brisbane,'and I must say that I have found those organisations from every standpoint first-class and very active. Australia, as a whole, should be very proud indeed of having two such splendid airways operating under difficult conditions, particularly in New’ Guinea.”