ENGLAND-AUSTRALIA FLIGHT.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 October 1919, Page 94

ENGLAND-AUSTRALIA FLIGHT.

INTERVIEW WITH CAPTAIN H. LARKIN, D.F.O. In the course of a chat, Captain H. Larkin, DF.C., General Manager of the Larkin-Sopwith Aviation Co. of Australasia, Ltd., Melbourne, stated that Captain G. C. Matthews, A.F.C., who is flying from England to Australia on a Sopwith "Transport," was a sergeant in the Australian Light Horse for twelve months, and was commissioned on Gallipoli. He then transferred to the Australian Camel Corps and later joined the Australian Flying Corps iu Egypt. He was sent to England where he took his "wings". He then went overseas with the Jirst Australian squadron to leave England, and gained his captaincy in France. On returning to England he was made Wing Examining Officer of the Australian Flying Corps, and was passed out of the Gosport School ol Special Flying as- an Al pilot. Before the war, he was a navigation officer in the employ of Howard Smith, Ltd., and holds an. Extra Master's Certificate. In view of these- qualifications lie was lent to the Aerial Navigation School as an instructor.

After the armistice he joined the Larkin-Sopwith Aviation Co. of Australasia, Ltd., and went through a course at the Sopwith Aviation Co.'s factory at Kingston-on-Thames. Since then he has been standing by in England pending the building of his machine to take part ia the Australian flight. lie is being accompanied on his flight by Sergeant Kay, late of No. 3 Australian Squadron, who has -undergone a thorough course of training with the Kolls-Royce Co., and is also a member of the Larkin-Sopwith Aviation Co., of Australasia, Ltd. Captain Matthews' machine is fitted with a 875 h.p. Rolls-Royce engine and will carry petrol for over 1,000 miles non-stop (light. The machine is fitted villi one engine only as it is the firm's policy to build this type of machine in preference to multi-engined machines. It is interesting to note that the more engines one builds into an aeroplane, the less efficient does it inevitably become. The reason for this being that a great deal of the machine's power is sacrificed in overcoming the additional head resistance of two or more engines, neither of which are stream-lined into the fuselage of the machine; also the extra stout structure (necessary to provide a sufficient factor of safety for such a powerful machine) offers more head resistance per horse-power titan is the case with single-engined machines. These | large machines are also about 20 per cent slower in point of speed. Captain Larkin went on to say that the. machine used by Captain Matthews will be flown to the various cities in Australia and New Zealand for exhibition purposes. Asked as to the time it would take Captain Matthews to complete the flight, Captain Larkin stated it would prAably be about a fortnight provided reasonable weather was experienced on the trip.

The conditions governing the. flight lay down that it must be completed within oue month on a British made machine. A change of engines en route is permissible. The Royal Aero Club, London, who are in charge of the arrangements for the flight, are placing an official at Singapore to cheek the seal of the machine and the pilot's credentials.

This is the second machine built by this firm to attempt the Australian flight. The first machine was a small Sopwith "Dove" and was completed last April. Government officials at "Australia House" gave permission for this machine to start fourteen days from the date of application. This permission was afterwards withdrawn and the l.arkin-Sopwith Aviation Co., Australasia, Ltd., was informed that the machine could not start until there were other machines built in order tiiat there might be a race for the prize. As the Sopwith "Dove" was not built for racing, another machine had to be built, and this is the one Captain Matthews is about to fly.

Apparently there is still hitch with regard to the competition, and Captain Larkiu is- of the opinion that it is possible Captain Matthews will attempt the flight irrespective of the prize, should there bo a continued delav.

Should Captain Matthews take this course, and succeed in reaching Australia, the Australian Government would then have to give the prize to the second machine to arrive.