LONG-RANGE FLIGHT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 42, 18 January 1938, Page 7

LONG-RANGE FLIGHT.

BRITISH DEVELOPMENT PLANS

Received January 18, 9.10 a.m. LONDON, Jan. 17. The Air Ministry has appointed Squadron-Leader Kellett and FlightLieutenants Hogan, Gardner and Combe to the personnel of the longrange development flight to Australia. They are shortly going to Cranwell to continue training and to practice taking-off with heavily loaded aircraft.

A British Official AVireless message on November 24 lasi, stated that the Air Ministry, in a statement, emphasised the importance of long-range aircraft to citil aviation and the Royal Air Force, saying that, the normal evolution of aircraft design -in recent years had brought about considerable increases in the range and load-carrving capacity. It had been decided to" continue tho development work by making use of the existing typo of aeroplane. The Vickers Wellesley craft had been selected for the purpose, and a flight of three aeroplanes of this typo would be equipped for the investigation and development of technique in long-range flying, in relation to both operational purposes and the design of the aeroplanes. Bristol Pegasus engines would be used with >ariablc pitch airscrews. Wing-Com- - mander O. R. Gayford would be in command it was proposed to make trial flights along all-sea route to. Australia, in the spring of 19*38. It was intended that one of these flights would bo made in connection with the New South AValcs Sesqui-ccntenar.v celebrations.