JOURNEY BY AIR.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1921, Page 4

JOURNEY BY AIR.

CHRISTCHURCH TO WELLINGTON. SUCCESSFUL FLIGHT. By Telegraph —Press association. Blenheim, Sept. 12. Avro 110, with a Lerhone engine, on her maiden trip left Sockburn aerodrome at 7.27 this morning and arrived at Blenheim aerodrome at 10.45 and left for Wellington after half an hour’s stay. The pilot was Captain Douglas Gray, the mechanic J. E. Cruse, and the observer H. J. Wilson.

It was a good trip in. ideal weather conditions and the passage was uneventful. The average altitude reached wbh 5000 feet. The consumption of petrol was extremely low, being only ten gallans. A stop was made it the, Elms. Kaikoura, for breakfast and fuel supply. Wellington, Last Night., The Avro flying machine reached Wellington at 12.30 p.m. from Christchurch, via Blenheim. The aeroplane is owned by the Canterbury Aviation Company. It left the Sockburn aerodrome, and as it proceeded the sun reflecting on the sea proved hard on the pilot’s eyes. Passing over Waipara at 7.50 a.m. the machine went out seaward® and flew’ up the coast. Kaikoura (140 mile®) was reached at 8.55 a.m. and a landing was mode there. After the pilot and passengers had morning tea the machine resumed the flight at 9.48 and it arrived at Blenheim (97 miles from Kaikoura) at. 10.45. It left Blenheim at 11.30, rising to n height of 9500 feet to cross the atrail. The actual time spent in crossing Cook Strait was 26 minutes —the fastest on record. After passing Cape Terawhiii the Avrp circled over Wellington for some minutes and then proceeded to Lower Hutt park, where a landing waa made. The total distance of 270 miles was covered in three hours and fifteen minutes actual flying time.