N.Z. TO AUSTRALIA BY AIR.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 March 1920, Page 4

N.Z. TO AUSTRALIA BY AIR.

WHEN IS ATTEMPT TO BE MADE ?

SYDNEY, March 1

The arrival in Sydney to-day of Sir Arthur Brown, who was Alcock’s com panion on Die great non-stop flight across the Atlantic last year has stir-cd up interest in Die possibility of big, trans-ocean flights, and directed attention to the new worlds which await a conqueror.

“When is the flight from Austral i; to New Zealand to be tackled?” asked a noted flier at a little gathering on aviation men in Sydney this aftemoot “It’s lip to New Zealand, but the N~>w Zealanders don’t seem to have made a move yet. I wonder why? The Aus I think if the were keen about it, they could do it in two —Australia to Lord Howe, and Lord Howe to (Auckland. “New Zealand is already, in mv opinion, within a day and a half, comfortably, of Australia. A big plan ', starting early, could reach Lord Ito v • by noon, and Norfolk Island by dusk and could reach Auckland early the foL lowing aternoon. Why doesn’t the New Zealand Oovemment make a- start with it. It would be a big thing for for both countries, and there is no doubt the Australian Government would gladly co-operate Iby placing warships along the route of the first flight, to guard against accidents.”

Tliis is the substance of the airmen’s, conversation. It was informal and cpiite unofficial, but it ought to be interesting to ,Now Zealanders, ifcralians have been doing things on the London-Aiistralian route, and there is an Aussie (Cotton) having a go at the T/ondon-Cape flight. But there were some Tattling good New Zealand flic's in Prance during the war, and the first flight across the Tasman Rea ought +o go to a New Zealander. I should hare thought the New Zealand Government would have tried to encourage the attempt before this.

Tt’s 1200 miles from shore to shore; he went on, the problo.n of flying across there is not as difficult as it • IfiClcs. I lieTiei'G it cSWId lie grCStlj*simplified by taking the roundabout route—from a suitable point in Northern New South Wales due east to Norfolk Island, and thence south-east to North Auckland. I dont think that would give anywhere a longer flight than 500 miles. It could be done comfortably in this w!i v in three hops—and