AEROPLANE FLIGHT.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 November 1917, Page 5

AEROPLANE FLIGHT.

SYDNEY TO MELBOURNE. AVERAGE GO MILES AN HOUR. An aeroplane flight from Richmond, near Sydney, to Point Oook, Melbourne, was made recently by Lieutenant Stutt, of the Richmond Flying School. The official record shows that the average speed for the journey was 00 miles an hour. The distance of 507 miles was covered in 9h. 32 min. Richmond to Goulbourn, 137 miles, was got over in Bli. 58 min.; Goulbourn to Albury, 254 miles, 3h. 53min.; Albury to Point Cook, 207 miles, 2h. olmin. Mr. A. G. F. James, Minister for Education, accompanied Lieutenant Stutt for the first stage of the journey. After leaving Richmond the aviators lost their way in a. fog—or rather above it—and they arrived at 8,27 a.m. instead of the schedule time of 7.45. They were prepared to go on after that, but again circustances upset their plans, for as the machine was rising to the start from the Goulburn racecourse, the lower wing of the right-hand plane struck a post and was so damaged that the remainder of the flight had to be postponed till a new wing had been sent from Richmond.

"It was the fog which made us late," said Mr. James in an interview. "We lost sight of New South Wales just after passing over Picjon, at about six o'clock, and for miles we flew over a sea of white mist. Nothing of the earth could be seen; only that rolling mass of vapor, not even a tree or a peak to guide us. We steered by guesswork for nearly two hours, and then, through a rift in the clouds, we saw a green field, and Stutt dived for ft. There was one surprised individual there. He opened his mouth when we landed and closed it as we left. It was 8.10 when wc took the air again.''

Mr. Stutt said little. "The compass jammed and refused to work very early in the game," he said 'When I decided to land I was wondering wheTc in the world we were, but that surprised farmer told us Golspie. Mv map did the rest."

It was just after nine when, the tank refilled, the third start was made. There was only one almost invisible post to hit, and by the worst luck in the world the machine hit it.

"Five years at the game," said Lieut. Stnlt later in tho day. "Five years, and to hit n post!"

Mr. .Tames decided that it was necessary for him to go on to Melbourne by train to keen an important appointment. Ho arrived in Melbourne, as it turned out, inst as the biir Curtis aeroplane was whirling above tit" ity before dropping along for a landing at Laverton.