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21st
June 1930.------------------------
Dear Colonel Brinsmead-----------------------------------------------Director
of Civil
Aviation----------------------------------------------Air
Board, MELBOURNE.----------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Colonel,--------------------
In writing this
letter to you I am asking for your blessing-in connection with an enterprise I am about to embark upon.
I admit I have sadly
neglected the regulations governing--flying
inasmuch as I have not applied for a renewal of my flying-license, at the proper time, but I have always kept up my flying-nevertheless, when my newspaper duties would permit, with the result
that I have now nearly 80 hours solo to my credit.
I am heavily
financially interested in the above
syndicate which-is forming an expedition to go to Central Australia to relocate-a
10 mile
reef of gold west of Alice Springs.
I will be a member of
this expedition and in addition to a-Thornycroft
six-wheeler truck, (sister to the one that went out to-bring in the late Lieut. Anderson's body) we have purchased a-Gypsy Moth plane, of which delivery will be taken next week.
It was on my
suggestion that the plane be taken, as then we will-not be stumped for water, the Moth making short scouting flights-ahead of the truck, which it will use as it's base.
The plane will not be
used for the carrying of goods or passengers-for hire or reward, and will not engage in any commercial undertaking.-For this reason it is not necessary to have a "B" ticket, as I am a-part owner of the machine.
Further I am not
drawing any salary from the syndicate, having-entered
the thing purely from the spirit of adventure, and placing no-reliance
on the hope of ever finding
the reef.
I will be carrying as
a passenger from Sydney to Alice Springs,-Captain
Blakiston Houston, A.D.C. to His Excellency Lord Stonehaven.-Captain
Houston is accompanying the expedition for the period of his furlough
and will return to Brisbane to join His Excellency there-towards
the end of August. He also, is only going on the expedition-for experience and adventure.
The truck will be
equipped with
wireless, and as further precautionary-measure
we are taking a fully licensed ground engineer and motor mechanic probably
Sergeant Becker, if Major De Havilland will lend him to us.-Major
De Havilland has prepared a list of spares for the plane which-will
also be taken.-----------
It will be seen
therefore, that this trip which will last about 15-weeks,
will be of invaluable experience to me, and knowing that you-are
desirous of giving every new pilot his chance to put up a good-show,
I am asking for your blessing, and any assistance you would-be prepared to
give, such as information regarding the country etc.-Maps
of the route from Sydney to Alice Springs, via Broken Hill would----
- be appreciated
together with information regarding landing grounds etc.
A member of the
expedition will be Mr.
F. Blakeley, brother to the-Minister
of Home Affairs, and several Federal Members are-members
of the syndicate.
From Alice Springs
onward, the truck will be used as the base
for the 'plane, and in good country will be towed behind-when
not in use.
If the country is too
rough a nature to permit this I will-fly ahead to the
next landing area which will be chosen as the camping-site,
after informing the Expedition of it's location. Tomahawks,
axes, medicine chests, spares of every description will be carried,-so that it will be seen that nothing is left to chance.-It is hoped to leave Mascot the first Saturday in July, and-final
arrangements are being made for departure next Thursday-evening.
I would esteem it a
favor, therefore if you would remit your--reply
to this letter, giving me a clearance from Mascot, in time-for this meeting.
My Log Book and
license are being sent under separate cover, by-air mail.
Thanking you in
anticipation of your favorable reply,----------------------------------
Yours, Faithfully
Errol.
H. Coote.------------------------------------
P.S. A fellow named
Burlington is trying to butt in on this-expedition, but several Federal Members have warned us that-his presence will not only be a handicap, but will be resented.-He
says he is a competent aircraftsman, mechanic, and flying man.-Could
you let us know if this is so?. Anyhow he is NOT going with-us.
P.P.S. You will
remember me as a member of the "Pictorial"-staff, and my work for aviation there, especially in=regard to the "Southern Cross".---------------------------------------------------------Coote.
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