AVIATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 March 1928, Page 3

AVIATION.

'Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) l. PRIVATE FLYING. A FCK 1. A Nl> AP PR EIIENSTV E. n ' d AUCKLAND, March 15. The “New Zealand Herald,” in edic tonal comment on flying clubs, states: 11 ” Inlonnal inn from Christchurch that b (he Prime .Minister lias given a prom- •* iso of financial assistance to a project- “ ed light aeroplane club there evokes 0 the inquiry as to what is to bo done 0 for Auckland. On Tuesday the Min--11 ister of Defence stated that the Government bad reached no decision con--1 corning the presentation of Moth r aeroplanes to flying clubs at Auckland 1 and Christchurch. “Mr Coates’s definite assurance of aid in the formation of a Christchurch club, coming so soon after Mr Rollcs--1 ton's non-committal statement, excites s the fear that Christchurch alone is to 1 be given this necessary encouragement. If so, the decision must be 1 made the subject of protest. Private flying lias recently begun bore. I here f ought to be an immediate , practical effort to form a light ’plane club, and in this the Government ought prompt--1 ly to assist ” • LONDON JOURNAL PROTESTS. i LONDON. March 15. England lias practically abandoned 1 hope for the salety of the trims- ( Atlantic fliers. Scores of false alarms ( from America sustained a laint hope, lint as each is unsubstantiated, the , ' press and public are agreed that the ( Atlantic has claimed more victims. , Lord Inclicnpe in reply from Egypt, { to a query as to whether lie was aware if his daughter was participating in the (light, cabled: -No knowledge whatever of flight.” Opinion in England is that Britain ( cannot afford to lose her foremost pilots , through fool-hardiness. Ihe “ Daily , Chronicle” says: “At the present stage , of development, an east to west trails- j Atlantic attempt is a pure gamble with a life, for which the motive is a mere record breaking and advertisement for the backers, and gallant expert pilots s I are thus bribed to doom. They are struggling professional men. Their career is unremunerntivc and they arc attempting the quasi-impossible to as- n sure the future of their homes. The type of rich woman Hier is a special problem. It is deplorable for anyone to squander tile lives of our finest ailmen. S | REASON FOR SECRECY. MISS MACKAY’S SCHEME. J' LONDON. March 15. " Tlie - Evening Standard ” oorrospondent reveals the full story of the reason for secrecy about the Hincbcliffe-Mac-kay flight. He says Aliss Mackay was greatly fascinated by attempts to fly the Atlantic, and was anxious financially to support some such venture. Sue always wanted to go herself, and frequently said she was ready to provide g the money required, but her greatest desire was tliaL Lord Inclicnpe should not bo aware of her intention for fear he would ban the project, and hold up the money. Therefore she adopted a L plan by which the money was drawn m p her friend’s name. She applied to the Imperial Airways for the service of a pilot, and shortly afterwards she met Hinchclifl'e who agreed to her plans. She arranged that Hinehelill'e should «° ti to America to purchase a machine at a cost of £SOOO. Hinclicliffe also favour- 1} off secrecy, from the point of view that it would he far more remunerative if tf the attempt were shroud.-'! in mystery. Miss Mackay engaged Hinclicliffe at the rate of £IOO a month, but naturally desired to get as much financial return as possible from the venture. (' A friend states that Miss .Mackay m was most determined to participate. f . and an elaborate scheme was arranged by which it should be thought Sinclair was. accompanying Hinclicliffe, though it was never intended that be should. The idea was that on arrival ill America “Sinclair” should jump from the machine to reveal himself to the amaze- ()| meat of the world, as Elsie Mackay. ( | KXI’EDIT! NG TR ANS-AT 1. A NTICI MAILS. PARIS, March 14. " The first mail utilising aeroplanes coastwise to link up with steamers on ;|( both sides of the Atlantic, arrived to day, fourteen, days from Buenos Aires. t] instead of three weeks of tbe most a favourable of all sea transit. re —• in LADY BAfLEY’S FLIGHT. ~ LONDON. Marcli 14. ]i( Lady Bailey lias arrived at Catania. d( KINKEAD’S TRAGIC END. LONDON, March 15. A suggestion that Kinend was poisoned by the fumes from the luel of the engine has been made the subject of an inquiry. Medical evidence ievealeil that Kinketul was not drowned j,. but decapitated by violent contact with u some portion of the aeroplane. • a) specimen of his blood was sent to n ~ laboratory to discover if ethyl lead or ([] carbon monoxide was present. The in- ];( quest was adjourned to await the resuit. . C'i Officers of tbe aerodrome said that, judging bv the naked eye. Kinketul uas Hying between 250 and 300 miles per lioui-7 He bail complained of sickness ))( during Sunday’s trial flight. It is s| believed that this was due to exhaust r( fumes. R Tbe burial will be to-morrow, with ,« military honours. B