TO FOLLOW CHICHESTER

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 897, 14 February 1930, Page 1

TO FOLLOW CHICHESTER

Aucklander on Australian Trip

FLIES ALONE FROM ENGLAND

Project in All-Metal Gipsy Moth

ASOLO flight from England to Australia is projected byMr. C. P. Parkerson, of Auckland, >vho has been in England for five months on business. Mr. Parkerson has just gained his pilot’s A ticket and has especially equipped his Gipsy Moth plane for the journey.

United -P. A.—-Eit Telegraph.—Copyright Rocd. 10.5 e.m. LONDON, Thursday.

Charles Purnell Parkerson, of Dean Street, Auckland, New Zealand, flew from Lympne to Brooklands after installing extra petrol tanks in his allmetal Gipsy Moth, in which he intends to fly to Australia. The machine will have a flying range of 15 to 20 hours, and a cruising speed of 90 to 100 miles an hour. He will take off about February 23. He intends to christen his plane, which is painted a silver saxe-blue, ’ Silver Heels.” Mr. Parkerson only qualified for his pilot's A licence recently, after learning to fly at Lympne.

* HIS BIG CHANCE

PREPARATIONS FOR FLIGHT Mr. Charles Purnell Parkerson, who intends to follow in the footsteps of Hinkler and Chichester, in an endeavour to fly from England to Australia, lone harded, is about 50 years of age and is well-known in Auckland business circles. For many years Mr. Parkerson was a keen enthusiast of flying and although having not actually piloted a plane while in New Zealand, he had many flying hours to his credit as a passenger in the Wigram Airdrome machines. He had always shown considerable keenness to attempt the England— Australia flight in a light plane, lonehanded, but the question of finance had always proved the stumbling block. His opportunity came about five months ago, however, when he was sent Home on behalf of an Auckland flax company to carry out some business. On his arrival in England he immediately set to to qualify as an "A” pilot, and it was on Christmas Day that his brother, Mr. R. L. Parkerson, received a cable from him to the effect that he had successfully got through the test for his ticket and intended to make immediate preparations for the big flight.

Educated at Ashburton and Temuka, in the South Island, Mr. Parkerson, on leaving school, entered the photography business and as a free-lancer became well-known throughout both Islands. For some time he carried on business in Rotorua and later came to Auckland, where he resided with his brother, Mr. R. L. Parkerson, at 11 Dean Street, Arch Hill. Mr. Parkerson eventually gave up the photography business and joined lip with the firm of Booth MacDonald. For nearly five years he travelled the Auckland and North Auckland districts as a salesman of farm implements, later to become the manager

of Booth MacDonald’s Hamilton branch, which position he held for two years. On returning to reside in Auckland Mr. Parkerson became interested in a flax company, and it was on behalf of this firm that he was sent to England, where he secured his ”A” licence and intends to fly to Australia. Mr. Parkerson is a married man, Mrs. Parkerson at present residing at Hikutaia.