KINGSFORD SMITH REACHES AUSTRALIA.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4520, 21 October 1930, Page 3

KINGSFORD SMITH REACHES AUSTRALIA.

Darwin, Sunday. Kingsfovd Smith arri|Ved at 2.10 this afternoon. He occupied 10 days, 2 hours, 10 minutes for the trip and his flying averaged 110 miles an hour and now holds the record for the England to Australia flight, beating Bert Hinkler’s time jby approximately live days. Hill was obliged to. land on the seashore between Koqpang and Atapoepoe, when his ’plane overturned and the engine was damaged. Hill is safe. ■Matthews, who left Hilly (Timo]r) at 9.10 on Saturday, saw Hill ■and lvingsford Smith on the Avay, so lie hurried to arrive first. He had a rest on arriving at Darwin at the Golf Club where liis health was drunk'. lie received many telegrams of congratulation. He had oil easy trip from England and is returning to London from here. He considers Smith a wonderful aviator. •Matthews was received on arrival by the Mayor and Government Resident (Colonel Waddell). There was a fair crowd on the ground, but Iris arrival was not expected. The - heat and 4 humidity were excessive and Hie people were seeking shelter. His first remark was: “I am jolly glad In see you folk. When .1 was kicking oil from Dilly this morning I saw two other planes in the distance which J recognised as Hill’s mid Smith’s. They hovered about as if they wished me to accompany them across the water. I would have been delighted, but in a. few minutes' we became parted as m\ machine, was faster than theirs. “My actual flying time is 13 days. I. bad a lot of hard luck, •but my experience shows that a Inst -air service between England and Australia is quite feasible.” “•Smithy” expresesd sorrow' at Hill’s mishap after puffing up a good battle. He borrowed Hill’s collapsible boat for the final bop. He carried three sols of plugs and changed them once.; “Smithy” approached the aerodrome on the eastern side as tlie (wind was very strong. He banked steeply but made a delightful landing. It was easily the best, living he had done. He was wearing plus fours on arrival, also a gold lucky elephant on his wrist. All the ’planes are leaving tomorrow, Smith and Haigh at (J a.in. for Cloneurry and Matthews mill Owen at 7 a.m. for Daly Wale rs. TIM ES GO MUARE D. The successful flights with their times lmvc been as follow: Days. Sir Ross Smith, 1919 28 Barer and MTntosh, 1920 207 March esc de Uiiicdo, 1925 35 Sir. Alan Cobham, 1920 30 Mr. Bert. Hinkler, 1928 15 Capt. Lancaster, Mrs. Miller, 1928 i 1 ,& 5 R.A.F. living-boats,* 1928 227 Moir and Owen, 1929 62 Mr. F. IC. Chichester, 1930 37 ■Piper and Kay, 1930 44 Mass Amy Johnson, 1930 20 Wing-Cmdr. Kingsford Smith 46 Captain Matthews 34