AUSTRALIA BY AIR

Taranaki Daily News, 23 October 1919, Page 5

AUSTRALIA BY AIR

MATTHEWS LEAVES LONDON. X SPLENDID" BEGINNING. gBOBABLE STOP. IN FRANCE, By: Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Oct. 22, 5.5 pjn. , London, October 81. . Captain G. 0. Matthews 'and Sergeant Kay started from Hounslow (near London) at mid-day for Australia under (excellent conditions. The start was made in the presence (of many Australians and British flying (officers, who cheerel as the Sopwith machine rase. The party included Mr H. XZ, Eawker, who arrived in a triplane lat the last moment. Captain Matthews arrived at 8.30 sun. and the mechanics were already tuning up the machine, which ran splendidly. The fog lifted at eleven o'clock. and Kay donned their leather kit, looking ready for an Arctic expedition. The crowd was meanwhile anxiously watching the Continental- weather reports and a board showing the day's departures, on which £he following wag posted:— <? "Machine, Sopwith; destination, Australia; time, when fog clears." Matthews "did not disclose his destination for the first stage of the flight and it is bettered he is making for the South Of France. He added that he 'was not taking a collapsible boat as it would only prolong the agony.—Aus> JW. Cable Assn. «A SPORTING FLIGHT.» Jfc MESSAGE FROM PRINOE ALBERT.-. Oct 22, 8.50 p.m. k '■■'./ London, October 21. Captain Matthews rose at .11.55 a.m. e circled the aerodrome for-, twenty-five minutes and then headed'' for Ermnee. , Prince Albert telegraphed: "May Sod fortune attend your Bporting: rat." Major-General J. E. B. Seely {Parliamentary Secretary to the Air Minls*rr) sent aJmessage saying: "Wish you jthe best luck in your sporting attempt *o fly to Australia." • Major-GeneTal Sir -F. H. Syfces (Chief Ethe Air Staff) telegraphed:—"Success your effort*."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

JOG STOPS THE FLIGHT. Received Oct. 22, 11.45 p.m. London, Oct. 21. Matthews landed at Marquise owing |o foj.—United Service, ' The Larkin-Sopwith aeroplane Wallaby is .a similar machine to that used for the trans-Atlantic flight by H. G. Hawker, only somewhat stronger, in view of possible rough landings. Its maximum speed is 121 miles an hour, •its lowest speed 48, and its cruising speed, at 6000 feet, js 107 miles an hour on IS gallons of petrol. Complete dual (control b provided, whereby either pilot pr observer can ny the machine. , "Given a very, big element of luck," said Matthews, "the flight is possible in ■SO days, bat the Commonwealth has surrounded the competitors with ridiculous .conditions. .There should have been a relay mail-carrying demonstration. Than the' flight would have been possible In •seven; pr eight days. However, lam (confident that I will get there some flay, preparing the way for quicker •flights in the future." ' Matthews re--gards the variety of the climatic condi&»4 as the ehief hindrance to success. ( ~ ACROSS AMERICA. I ANOTHER AIRMAN •SUCCESSFUL. New York, October 21. Captain Donaldson has arrived at Stineola, being the second competitor to Complete the trans-Continental flight.— !ini.*N.Z. Cable Assn.