I thus continue this assembly which deserves to be carried out.
E.Poulet took over Jules Vedrines' project on his own and prepared the itinerary. The flight is designed as a reconnaissance flight of the stages to be followed in order to open a regular line to Asia and Australia and to promote French aviation. He will take with him the mechanic Jean Benoist (former mechanic of Gilbert) who has accompanied him for several years and who was already present in 1914 during his record flight. The raid is undertaken for the benefit of the widow of Jules Vedrines and her five children.
The plane he will use will be a twin-engine Caudron G-4 registered C.4251 bought by him (60,000 francs) and modified for the occasion "(...) and which Mr. Caudron was kind enough to refurbish him" (doc.la vie Aérienne p 683). It's a plane Poulet knows very well. "It takes off quickly, lands slowly and has all the guarantees of safety." [/b]
It was his friend Jules Védrine “the glorious and regretted comrade” who came up with the idea of the Paris Melbourne raid. His death on April 21, 1919 prevented him from carrying out this project.
PARIS, France, September 30, 1919. Mr. Henry J. Smith (Sea Land and Air vol II N°21) interviews Poulet:
Mr. Henry J. Smith, who heads his story : '' Poulet to Fly to Australia Pays Own Way,'' describes the interview
in the following breez style, to which, one offers due homage.
PARIS, France, September 30.
