Long distance non-stop flights, sponsored by the Air Ministry, were made more than ten years ago. One of the outstanding flights of this time was made in 1933, when two RAF. officers took off from Cranweil in Lincolnshire and flew without halt to Walvisch Bay, in the British South-west African Protectorate, The pilots were Squadron R. Bayford, A.F.C., and Flight Lieutenant G. E, Nicholetts, Their machine was a specially built Fairey monoplane of 82-feet span, and it was powered with a single Napier engine. The fuel carriage was 1,000 gallons, and the all-up-weight was 17,000 Ib, The whole flight of 5,309 miles occupied 57% hours, From this record a great deal of valuable data was obtained in regard to aero-dynamics and air navigation, Five years later another official long-range record was set up, when two R.A.F, machines flew non-stop from Egypt to Australia in forty-eight hours, The distance was 7,157 miles and the aeroplanes were Vickers-Wellesley monoplanes fied with Bristol es. "The Wellesley was the first aeroplane to be built on the Wallis-geodetic system, a construction which provides great strength with exceptionally low weight. The'same system is embodied in the famous Wellington bomber, now in service with many squadrons engaged in the long-distance raids over Germany and Italy, Gave Excellent Account The Wellesley, which has a wing span of 74 ft. and when fully loaded weighs 11,100 1b., has a speed of 216 miles an Hour, Although no longer ranking as a first-line bomber, it is still being used in the East, and in spite of ils comparative slow speed and a modest armament, it is giving an excellent account of itself against the Italians,
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