The Great Flight Public interest in the England-Australia flight has
been stimulated afresh by the return journey of Cathcart Jones and -Waller who, arriving fourth in the race to Melbourne in their D.H. Comet, set out without delay homewards. On various sections of the course they already • claimed five- records when, on Thursday morning, they left Athens for England bent on capturing two new records—for the double journey; and that from Australia to England. Amongst other competitors the. plucky -Australian C. J. Melrose seems to have the best chance !for the handicap event.. The most obvious lessons which have so far been drawn from the race are that British workmanship and British flying are abundantly . vindicated by the achievements- of . the three Comets, but that the swift .steady. flight of the American Douglas flown by the Dutchmen is of greater significance- still, since it shows what can be done by deliberate policy and subsidies to secure the lead in quick, regular air-mail services. Speed is not the only factor in successful commercial aviation. Reliability, comfort and good ground organization are the first essentials on long-distance routes, as a well-known airman points out in a letter on another page. Speed depends on what the taxpayer is prepared to contribute.
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