“I AM OFF TO AUSTRALIA”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 852, 21 December 1929, Page 1

“I AM OFF TO AUSTRALIA”

New Zealander’s Lone Flight

HINKLER’S RECORD CHALLENGED Early Morning Start From Croydon United P.A.. —By Telegraph—Copyright Received 9 a.m. LONDON, Friday. CAPTAIN R. C. CHICHESTER, a wealthy young New' Zealander, left Croydon secretly in a Moth machine today. , It is stated that he intended to fly to Australia, in an attempt to beat Mr. Bert Hinkler’s record.

in the air. I want to tlo something ! for New Zealand.” I Captain Chichester’s father was most surprised at the news of the flight, and his aunt, Mcs. Paget, with whom he was staying, did not know i he was leaving. The airman filled the passenger's seat with extra petrol tanks, increasing the range by more than 1.000 miles. He stood by while the plane's lank was filled, and did not mention that he intended to make a long flight. An official of the London Aero Club declared: —“Chichester impressed me as a quiet and daring fellow He did : not talk about himself. ‘Cheerio, 1 am off to Australia,’ were his only words. “A few officials were standing hy as he stepped into the plane. His machine is not equipped with wireless. He made no plans to communicate progress, and does not know himself where he is stopping. He intends pushing on as fai as possible each day." De Havillands. the makers of his plate, describe him as an excellent pilot, with a good air mind.

Captain Chichester had been flying only three months. He kept his intention secret beyond informing his j New Zealand air representative; but j he had not hinted at such a quick departure. . He unexpectedly arrived at Croydon at midnight. Only a handful of airdrome officials saw him take off in a Moth, in brilliant moonlight at 3 a m., in perfect conditions. He shouted: “Cheerio. 1 am off to | Australia.” „ , It is understood that Lyons will be his first stop. (Later.) Captain Chichester arrived at Lyons, in France, at 10.22 a.m., refuelled, and left at 12.10 p.m. for Tunis. He is a son of the rector of Shirwell. and hails from Wellington. “I will break one of three things, the record, the machine, or myself,” he declared. “If I break Bert Hinkler’s record, I hope to fly on to Wellington. Australia has done splendidly