ENDURANCE FLIGHT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 84, 19 January 1928, Page 5

ENDURANCE FLIGHT.

KINCSFORD SMITH’S ATTEMPT, REPORTS “EVERYTHING Q.K.” (Press Association —Copyright.) (Received This Day, 9.25 a.m.) SAN FRANCISCO, January 18. Captain Kingsford Smith’s ’plane came through its greatest hazard in the endurance flight, namely, the early hours of the morning, when the load was heavy, with the motors still functioning perfectly. After 24 hours were still faultless! and were throttled at the lowest possible speed as the morning wore on. The fliers sent messages at 7 o’clock: “Good morning. We are flying in the neighbourhood of Mills Field, the motors making 1400 revolutions a minute. It is very cold. Our side-curtains are broken, letting the wind sweep in oh us.” Both airmen were warmly clad. The next message, at 9.30, said: “Our altitude is 600 feet, our speed 57 miles an hour; revolutions 1390. Everything 0.K.”

The existing record is 52hrs 22min 21sec, established in August of last year by Edmund Risticz, a German airman. In their attempt in December, Captain Spilth and Lieutenant Pond flew for 49hours 29minutes, when their petrol supply gave out. STILL GOING WELL. (A.P.A. and “Sun” Cables.) (Received This Day, 11.15 a.m.) SAN FRANCISCO, January 18. Shortly after noon the flyers wirelessed that their ’plane was functioning perfectly.