The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954)(about) |
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Wednesday 30 March 1949
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SCHEME NOT SUPPORTED 'Time Not Opportune' For Polar Flight The Minister for Air (Mr. Drakeford) considers that the time is not opportune for a Southern Hemisphere round the-world flight, according to a letter to Mr. T. Burke. M.H.R., following representa tions made by Mr. C. L. K. Foot. of South Perth, who pro-.
posed the flight some months ago. Mr. Foot suggested that a plane should leave Australia and fly to South America, via the South Pole, then across the Atlantic to South Africa and back to Australia, via Kergue. len Island. "Although there is no insur mountable difficulty involved in flights over the Antarctic conti nent," Mr. Drakeford wrote, "it is thought that air routes passing over this area will be neither necessary nor practicable for many years to come. It is, of course, realised that prestige would accrue to Australia if an aircraft manned by Australians was the first to circumnavigate the world in the Southern Hemisphere." Mr. Foot said yesterday that he now hoped that, if the political situation would allow it, the flight would be carried out by private backing together with some Government support.