Evening star., 1934-10-14
History's Greatest Air Race

we head straight for the Ganges
River and Allahabad. II we made
that one we were lucky and we have
had some real thrills, with perhaps a
peep at the Hin:alayas and other
scenic wonders. But the racing pilot
on a dashing flight against time 10 a
control point, some 1850 miles from
London, has little time for the
scenery.
Across Bay Of Bengal
The propellers roar and we are OF
again from Allahabad. II we are in
the handicap race only, we would
keep fairly close to the Ganges to
Calcutta, then Rangoon and Bang
kok; but for the speed run, great
| circle course carries us on another
sea flight across the Bay Of Bengal.
Once across, Wen likely, II the
weather Is right, skim along the shores
Of the Malay Peninsula, through the
Straits of Malay and straight into
Singapore. It sounds like an easy
jump, but you'll never know until
you try 1t. Anyway, here we are at
Singapore, short 2,211 miles or so
from Allahabad and another control
point about 1851 miles from London.
Leaving Singapore, we are In for
another flight over the sea. We skirt
the Dutch East Indies. Plenty Of
jungle. We have last look at the
Timor Sea as we touch Australia, and
before we know 1t we sight Darwin,
the fifth control point. Seems pretty
safe on the map, but Just a. glance
for a weary pilot at the Darwin aero
drome is likely to give his nerves a
jolt If he has not already had the
filters. The Darwin field is 600 yards
wide and $50 yards long, roughly.
Landing in that space, for a man or
woman who has just made a 1000
mile hop and is more than 5000 miles
from London, is something more than
morning exercise.
Now for the last leg Of the race. It
Is from Darwin straight across Aus
tralia, east Of the Great Sandy Desert
and over the bush country, most
primitive region in the world today,
These are hazards found on the map
before we can reach Charleville. II
we make Charleville we have added
another 1,400 miles; then a relatively
short hop Of TIA miles and we're over
Melbourne, 1l,o00 miles from Lon
don-if we have flown a perfect great
circle course. In the handicap race
there are certain optional landing
places which in some cases are in a
little more civilized country, but
which lengthen the mileage to 12,577.
Maps Tell Only Part.
Are you tiredP On the map It
looks like long, though not so difd-
cult, flight; but maps don't tell all.
Remember, the fight is over noun.
tains, deserts, jungles, strange cities
and strange seas. The climatic con-
ditions to be encountered are I'M
familiar to most of the pilots entered
and the season of the year is one in
which weather may be abnormally
changeable and temperamental. The
operations manager for K. L. M,
which operates one of the longest and
most successful airline routes in the
world over much of the course of this
race, states that south of Calcutta the
pilots may expect to encounter "al-
most anything" and in that part Of
the world those words include low
clouds, torrential tropical rains and
the most severe thunder storms.
AirportS along the route-and they
are not too frequent--are much
smaller than those in the United
States The great majority have no
facilities for night landings, and
speed contestants are not always able
to arrange daylight landings.
A final problem Is the effect that
may accrue to new experimental, high
compression motors, from great
changes in temperature. requiring
constant adjustments If the motor Il
to be kept humming.
These are some of the difficulties
of the fight. Over against them are
the attractions-the money prizes, the
thrill of it, the possibility Of winning
fame and glory, the satisfaction of
aiding the advancement of aviation.
Besides, everything will be done for
the comfort and pleasure of those
who succeed in reaching the end of
the course. The centennial celebra-
ton OF the state OF Victoria and OF
Melbourne, its capital city, will be
in progress. The lucky ladies who
arrive can probably look forward to
meeting royalty, for Prince Henry,
Duke of Gloucester, who will repre-
sent King George v, and other not.
ables are scheduled to be on hand.
Furthermore, the fun Of the ocean
voyages to London and back from
Australia is a major attraction.
All the world of aviation looks with
envy toward those who will take of
from London next Saturday in this
great argosy Of the skies. They will
face adventure and the possibility Of
tragedy. In spite Of all obstacles,
every flyer will secretly envy those
who are lucky enough to be off-for
glory and experience, the progress Of
commercial aviation and the chance
of fame.