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Aviation History
1931
1931 - 1335.PDF
FLIGHT, DECEMBER 25, 1931 THE START: The Avro 10 (Armstrong-Siddeley " Lynx "), " Southern Sun," leaving Melbourne for England with mail on November 20. Six days later it crashed at Alor Star, and the mails—together with this and accompanyingillustration—were brought on by Kingsford Smith in the " Southern Star." (Photo, courtesy Shell Co. of Australia, Ltd.) The Australian Christmas Air Mall kERHAPS one of the most interesting events in thehistory of air mails is the transport of a special consignment of Christmas mail from New Zealandand Australia to England, which was brought to a successful conclusion last week. It is interesting in manyways ; first, perhaps, because of the active part played by Air Com. Kingsford Smith, who for the second timecame to the rescue when the experiment looked like turning out a failure, and made it a success. Secondly, in spite of weather delays on the final stageof the journey, Kingsford Smith accomplished the flight from Australia in only fourteen days, more or less estab-lishing the certainty (taking into consideration also the previous experimental England-Australia air mail servicemade by Imperial Airways) that regular mail services on this route, occupying about twelve days, are a practicableproposition. Actually, of course, owing to the crash, the mails took 24 days. Again, as a flight in itself, this dash from Australia byKingsford Smith is a remarkable efiort, for apart from the fact that he was flying against doctor's orders, he has mademagnificent progress throughout, averaging about 1,000 miles per day. It is of interest to note, also, that this isthe first time that a passenger has made the direct flight from Australia to England—for besides the mail a secondpilot, Mr. G. U. Allan, and a mechanic, Mr. W. H. Hewitt, were carried. Although we have already reported the progress fromthe start of this air mail in previous issues, it may be as well, as a matter of record, if we set it down here onceagain. It will be remembered that an Avro 10 (Armstrong Siddeley " Lynx " engines) monoplane, Southprn Sun,piloted by Mr. G. U. Allan, with Mr. B. S. Calligan as second pilot and Col. Brimsmead as passenger, left Darwin, with mail from New Zealand and Melbourne, etc., on November 23, and was due to arrive at Croydon on THE CREW OF THE "SOUTHERN SUN": Left toright: R. Boulton, assistant pilot; G. U. Allan, chief pilot, and B. S. Calligan, wireless operator. (Photo, courtesy Shell Co. of Australia, Ltd.). 1257
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