Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1922 edition. Excerpt: ... 'holograph by Frank Hurley. The 10,000 prize presented by the Australian Commonwealth Government for the first flight from London to Australia. stimulated in me a keenness--more than ever--to attempt the flight. My difficulty was how to reach England in time. Shortly afterward General Borton was instructed to return to London to report on the route. This opened the avenue of transport for myself and my two mechanics. General Borton himself was very keen to join in the flight to Australia, but, unfortunately, not being an Australian he was debarred from entering the competition. He very kindly approached Messrs. Vickers, Ltd., and asked them if they would supply a machine for the flight. This, at first, they refused to do, but after General Borton pointed out that I had already done a considerable amount of long-distance flying and had been over nearly the whole route, as well as assisted in pioneering it, they finally consented. My brother Keith was at the time in England awaiting repatriation to Australia. During the latter part of the war he had been flying with the Royal Air Force and had gained extensive and varied air experience. I therefore decided that he would be the best man to take as assistant pilot and navigator. Sergeants Bennett and Shiers, in view of their excellent war services and the knowledge that they gained in the flight from Cairo to Calcutta, were to accompany us as air mechanics, thus making a total crew of four. Vickers did not definitely decide to enter the machine for the competition until October, and as we left London on November 12th, it will be seen that the time to prepare for such an undertaking was very limited. Our preparations were doubly hurried, first by the knowledge that four other machines..."
