IN THE AIR.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3368, 22 December 1919, Page 5

IN THE AIR.

ROSS-SMI’I‘H’S MISPORTUNE. TWO PROPBLLER BLADES SPLIT. Received 9.15 am. BRISBANE, Dec. .22. Ross-Smith, interviewed at Cloncurry, s9aid~the trouble on the journey from Port Darwin arose from the fact that when he was leaving Calcutta (?) a hawk struck and cracked a propeller. This gradually grew Worse, but he hoped it would see hill} through to Sydney”, When nearing An=t.hony’s lagoon, after the blade had been mended with wire, the propeller suddenly split.’ He managed to make a good landing near an artesan bore. He thought his case hopeless, ‘as two blades were badly split, but with the assistance of police olficers and men engaged at the bore, their only working tools being pocket knives and glass, they managed, after three and a-half days’ hard work to make the propeller iigain serviceable, and he ttmvelled in short stages to Clancurry, staying nights at various stations,‘ where he replenished supplies and petrol. They encountered thunderstorms -and high winds, which severely tested the damaged propeller, and the ,ereW were almost worn out" with eontinzaous work. .