MR HINKLER’S FLIGHT

Evening Star, Issue 19802, 28 February 1928, Page 4

MR HINKLER’S FLIGHT

AN GUTSTAHDING ACHIEVEMENT REFERENCE IN BRITISH PARLIAMENT Press Association— By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, February 27. (Received February 28, at 11.30 a.m.) In answer to a question in the House of Commons, Sir Samuel Hoare (Air Minister) stated: “I cannot at present add much to tho conformation given by tho Press regarding Mr Hinkler’s outstanding achievement, which 1 am glad to soo has been given the prominence it undoubtedly deserves.” Sir Samuel Hoare detailed the records broken, and said that Mr Hinkler’s total flying time was 134 hours; therefore, if the flight had been continuous day and night, it would have occupied only live days fourteen hours. Taking the whole time spent in flight, including night and day halts, the distance worked out at thirty miles hourly. Taking tbo time, the actual flying speed averaged eighty-nine miles hourly. The fact that 12,000 miles had been covered without repairs was a striking testimony to tho reliability of tho machine and the engine. One of the most striking features of the flight was that tho machine used was a standard Avro-Avian, with a Cirrus engine, which had been in use since 1926. Tho only alteration before the flight was the incorporation of extra tankage. A machine of this type, complete, apart from extra tanks, cost £730 sterling, and approximately Mr Hinkler’s consumption of petrol and oil, cost only £SO. These figures were a striking indication of tho great potentialities of aircraft for communication between the vast stretches of the Empire over which other means of communication were either non-existent or relatively undeveloped.—A. and N.Z. and ‘Sun’ Cable.

WHOLE FLIGHT COST £55

BRISBANE, February 28. (Received February 28, at 11 a.in.) Mr Hinkler, interviewed at Bundaberg, said that the flight to Australia cost him £55 approximately. It was difficult to work out the exact cost because the price of petrol varied from Is 6d a gallon in Britain to 3s Cd at Basra. Ho did twenty-five miles to the gallon, and used 450 gallons ■ Ho used very little oil. BRONZE BUST BEING MADE LONDON, February 27. (Received February 28, at 11.10 a.in.) The Czecho-Slovakian sculptor Otakar Steinberger, desiring to commemorate the Australian national hero, lias decided to make a bronze bust of Mr Hinkler, which ho is asking the Royal Aero Club to hand Mr Hinkler. SIR CHARLES WAKEFIELD'S GIFT [Pee United Press Association ] WELLINGTON, February 28. Mr Bruce, the Prime Minister of Australia, has cabled Sir Charles Wakefield accepting, on behalf of the Government and the people of Australia, his offer of an Avro-Avian ’plane, adding: “Nothing could more fitly mark the great achievement of Mr Hinkler. I feel sure that your gift will ho an Inspiration to the development of aviation in Australia.”