ENDURANCE FLIGHT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 83, 18 January 1928, Page 5

ENDURANCE FLIGHT

AUSTRALIAN ASPIRANT. CAPTAIN SMITH'S AMBITION. I ANOTHER ATTEMPT STARTED. (Per Press Association— Copyright.) (Received This Daq, 9.5 a.m.) SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 17. ' Captain Kingsford Smith (the Australian aviator) and Captain Pond, left Mills Field at 8.11 this morning m the aeroplane "Spirit of California, in an attempt to break the endurance flight record. The 'plane carried 1532 gallons of. petrol and 32 gallons> of oil It sped down the field nearly «*OOO feet with the great, weight of the fuel -supply before * took . the ,™ r - ,i lhe airmen are now carrying 100 gallons more petrol than on the previous attempt. , Captain Smith stated that he and Captain Pond would cruise about the San Francisco Bay district for the first few hours, possibly going as far south as San Jose. Later, as the petrol consumption lessened the 'plane's weight, they would probably cruise inland as far as Sacramento and < Stockton. As on their previous flight, they carried 30 sandwiches, hot soup and coffee in Thermos fcottles,. and condensed chocolate, also water enough to last three days. They must remain in the air untiJ Thursday afternoon in order to break the German record. , The total weight lifted b? the 'plane was 15,720 pounds!, which is the heaviest taken into the air by any 'plane ■on the Pacific Coast. The weather, was cold, but the atmospheric conditions were considered good. The three motors were warmed 7 up for nearly an hour before the start. The heavy ship gained momentum slowly down the runway and for a time it seemed that it would be unable to get off the ground, but finally it lifted, barely clearing the dyke at the «nd of the field. When the 'plane passed- out of sight southward' it had attained an altitude of a little over 100 Before his departure, Captain Smith eaid: *'We are out to get the record this time. It is going to take some unexpected trouble with the motors to make us come down. The weather conditions are good and' the 'plane is in perfect shape. We have increased its gasoline capacity enough to carry just the margin of gasoline that will spell victory this time." -i A wireless message from the plane shortly before 11 o'clock stated that it had climbed to an altitude slightly more than 1000 feet. The motors were pedfonwng perfectly. It declared that bumpy air pockets had previously been encountered; but the atmospheric conditional had improved as the 'plane gained altitude.

RADIO MESSAGES FAIL. A FORCED LANDING FEARED. /Received This Day, 11.20 a.m.) SAN FRANCISCO, January 17. Experts expressed apprehension for -the safely of Captain Kingsford Smith and Lieutenant Pond, at noon, when the radio Failed. A forced landing is feared. MESSAGES AGAIN RECEIVED. (Received This Day, 1.20 p.m.) NEW YORK, January 17. Captain Kingsford Smith and his two fellow airmen are safe. A Hum transmitter picked up their messages at 3 •o'clock this afternoon. .