AVIATION

Hokitika Guardian, 4 December 1931, Page 5

AVIATION

LONDON-N.Z. FLIGHT. BLENHEIM AVIATOR’S PROJECT (Australian Press Association.) SYDNEY, December 3. Plans to fly from London to New Zealand in eight days and from London to Darwin in four days, are being made by Flying Officer A. Biuley, who has arrived here on hoard the “Ballarat”, on leave from the Transjordan region whore he is serving in the Royal Air Force. Rinlev is e>n route to his Lome at Blenheim, in New Zealand, wheie he will complete his plans- He intends to use an American airplane, with a speed tv 180 miles an hour, of the same type as that used by Lindbergh, with a range of three thousand miles. Ibis co-pilot will be an English friend. THE SOUTHERN STAR. KINGSFORD SMITH TAKES OFF DARWIN, December 3. Mechanics worked late last night in effecting repairs to the Southern Star, which made a perfect getaway his morning at G.LS in excellent weather. Kingsford Smith expects to reach Koepnng at noon. SMITH PASSES KOEPANC. KOEPANG, December, 3. The- Southern Star arrived here at 10.20 this forenoon, left later for, Singnradja. HINKLER’S PROGRESS. TO BE WELCOMED IN BRITAIN LONDON, December 2. B'ert Hinkler is expected to reach Hanworfh at 2 p.m. on . Saturday, an his plane/ Lord Londonderry (Air Minister) will officially welcome him. Lord 'Wakefield, Sir Arthur WhittenBrown Miss Amy Johnson and Sir A. Cobhain will be present. MADRID, December 2. Bert Hinkler arrived here unexpectedly. No officials were present as he landed. He said he was very tired. His hops had followed each otljer so closely that life was unable to i-est. A GREAT FEAT. HAZARDOUS OCEAN CROSSING LONDON, December 3. “The Time’s” Madrid correspender.t decribes Bert Hinkler’s South Atlantic flight. He says: Hinkler ran' into the severest storm during the night. He tried to get under • the clouds but he found that the ceiling was only about one hundred feet high. His machine was without lights hut he managed to see the white crest of a breaking wave, just below, which was a warring of his extreme danger. He never saw such terrible lightning. He used two composes one slung at the rear as far as possible from the engine, with the dial reversed, which he saw through a mirror. He steered for a point just south of Bathurst. He was only ten miles outi of his course when he sighted land.