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Aviation History
1935
1935 - 0637.PDF
MARCH 21, 1935- FLIGHT. 3i3 LORD SEMPILL, WITH LOCAL ASSISTANCE, REPAIRS HIS MACHINE AND FLIES TO MELBOURNE AIRPORT FROM HIS TEMPORARY LANDING PLACE ON THE BEACH. THE MELBOURNE CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS IN RETROSPECT ALTHOUGH I was disappointed that I had not been L able to hnd the aerodrome after reaching Melbourne from Alice Springs in one day's flying, I was thankful that 1 had been able to pick out one of the few strips of sand on the beach which were suitable for landing. I had had a long day and was naturally somewhat weary with my struggle through the tea tree " jungle " at the back of the beach, so that I found the period before dawn a lengthy vigil. One wheel of my machine was awash for some time and it continued to sink in the soft sand, so that the "Puss Moth " eventually settled down at an acute angle on the steeply sloping beach. As the machine tilted more and more I was forced to spend a good deal of time splashing about in the surf endeavouring to right it as far as was possible. Had I landed a few feet farther down the beach I could not have prevented my machine, which had carried me safely almost to my destination, being washed out to sea. As it was, apart from the drenching it received from the salt spray, the damage was confined to the port elevator which was smashed in by an extra strong wave. I was therefore very relieved when dawn came and the tide receded, leaving the machine stranded but clear of the water. W Carpenter to the Rescue 1TH daylight I went to obtain assistance and found that the place where I had come down was only about a hundred yards from a road. After walking about a mile I came to the Marlborough Guest House, and, find ing the proprietor, Mr. W. E. Newton, standing on the verandah, I explained my predicament. I must have presented a sorry spectacle and it was not surprising, as he admitted later, that Mr. Newton took me for a swaggie." My first thought, whilst the proprietress was preparing some breakfast, was to telephone to Melbourne, as they had been expecting me the night before and were naturally anxious at my non-arrival When sitting down to some very welcome refreshment I listened in to a Broadcast announcing the fact that I was missing, but I new that my telephone communication would be passed on to the authorities concerned. After breakfast, Mr. ftewton, having enlisted the aid of the village carpenter, no brought his tools and some thin three-ply wood, we macT 1 to8ether with another resident to where the in n a The carPenter> Mr- Payton, was a real friend elevat ^ by covering the complete surface of the we n A Wlth the tk^-Pty to keep it in its proper form, when Very satisfactory temporary repair. I found, ^completed, that the controls were quite normal. which'w8 1 ned the machine by taking out my luggage, Mr- A 0 R ^ taken int0 Melbourne in a car lent by of the Vir+ a"ett' a Portsea summer resident and member we Rot th Aer° Club' who kindly lent his assistance, ''ghtened 1 machme into position for taking off. Thus 1 was fort m.ana§ed to get awav without much difficulty. PrMo n th 6 mdeed t0 have such willing helpers Mr. Pavment fcf farPenter. was most unwilling to take any uP°n him tn mvaluable help, and I could not prevail ply Used 2.accePt more than the bare cost of the three- ifte repair had taken little more than an hour The Objective Reached to complete and by 11.30 a.m. I had reached Melbourne. My first care on landing there was to wash the machine throughly with a hose to get rid of all the salt which had adhered to the fabric and I was then quite ready for a rest after my ordeal of the night before. The airport of Melbourne, which is known as Essendon, is a Govern ment aerodrome suitable for use by all types of aircraft A focal point of world interest, as the terminus of the MacRobertson Trophy Race, it has a good surface, sloping gently to the S.W., the two dimensions being 700 yards from north to south and 800 yards from east to west. Tlii approaches are fairly good on three sides, but there are wireless masts about ij miles to the west of the ground. Facilities generally are good, and there is a compass swing ing base on the aerodrome. A Warm Welcome T HE welcome I received proved that the great recep tion accorded to the competitors in the MacRobertson Race had not exhausted their hospitality. Although this air race was only one of the many special events of im portance which marked the Centenary Celebrations which had been organised to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of the foundation of the City of Melbourne, it has certainly- captured the imagination of the world as few other air events have done. Enthusiasm in Australia was never greater and this was demonstrated by the tremendous crowd which awaited in heavy rain the arrival of Scott and Black at Flemington Racecourse. It was a great day for that fine patriot Sir MacPherson Robertson, whose enterprise and beneficence made it possible. Sir MacPherson realised the handicap which Australia suffers by reason of its geographical position and great distance from world centres. He was anxious to demonstrate his faith in the possibilities of aviation in drawing the units of Empire closer together by means of more rapid communications. His faith was justified and even his most optimistic estimate of the time that the winner would take—three days—was improved upon. Change of Outlook COMPARE this with the five or six weeks, which had al ways separated Australia from the Mother Country and one obtains an idea of the change of mental outlook which this demonstration of speed has effected. Its reper cussions were world wide, but the effect of the race on the airmindedness of the Australian people must have been a great source of gratification to its initiator. Sir MacPherson realised, too, what a challenge his competition was to the British aircraft designers and manufacturers, who had seemed to be greatly handicapped in the first instance. That British enterprise eventually triumphed was an added source of satisfaction to him. Not only has he performed a signal service to his own country, but has been instrumental in enhancing British prestige throughout the world. Special scientific, commercial and industrial conferences, as well as social and sporting events, had drawn visitors from all Over the world during the Melbourne Centenary Celebrations, which have extended over many months. The result of the MacRobertson Race, which occupied such a prominent position in the programme, has therefore impressed at first hand important delegates from all over the world and in so doing has given an added emphasis to a British success which has received such a world-wide press publicity.
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