ENGLAND TO AUSTRALIA

Evening Star, Issue 19798, 23 February 1928, Page 2

ENGLAND TO AUSTRALIA

MR HINKLER'S FLIGHT SAFE ARRIVAL AT DARWIN DARWIN, February IS. Mr Hinkler landed safely at 6 o’clock. The whole town has been agog all day, and every preparation was made for the landing and an enthusiastic welcome. _ The warship Melbourne left early this morning lor Singapore, steering along the lino ot the flight, and keeping a sharp lookout. A ROUSING RECEPTION IN EXCEL I /ENT HUM. DARWIN, February 2*2. (Received February 2d, at l.flU a.in.) The whole population simmed with excitement at Mr Hinkler's arrival. People gathered hours before he, was due, anxiously watching for the flyer’s appearance out of the void as he finished his last lap of 950 miles from Bima on his long record-breaking flight. They gave him a rousing reception as he taxied down to the aerodrome and gracefully alighted. Mr Hinkler and his machine are both in excellent trim. INTEREST IN ENGLAND. (British Official Nows.) Prens Association—Bj Wireless—CopyrlgSi RUGBY, February 21. (Received February 22, at noon.) Growing interest is being displayed in the progress of Mr Hinkler as be approaches the objective of his great solo flight from Croydon to Australia. People in London acquainted with his ’plane anticipate that he will attempt the long hop of 1,000 miles from the eastern extremity of Java to Timor tomorrow, and if this is successfully accomplished there will remain only the final stage of 600 miles to Port Darwin. This section is perilous at normal times,

and the difficulties are liable to be increased by foul weather, for the rainy season now prevails. If Australia is reached by Thursday the whole journey will have been accomplished in seventeen days. He lias already established several records on this flight, and the newspapers pay a high tribute to his skill in linking Java with London in less than fourteen days. The mail steamer takes thirty-three days for the journey.