A GOOD START.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 277, 23 November 1927, Page 7

A GOOD START.

WEATHER FAIR.

First Twenty Miles In Sixteen

Minutes.

PEST STOP HONOLULU,

(Received 0.30 a.m.) SAN FRANCISCO, November 22,

Captain F. A. Giles, the Australian aviator, took off on Tuesday morning for Honolulu, en route to New Zealand .via Brisbane.

The flight commenced at. 7.24 and Gileses timated that 26 hours would complete the trip, via the Great Circle route. Twenty ships are scattered along the course! and have been requested to report The weather conditions aro

progress. fair;,: v;

The 'plane gained elevation rapidly, travelled south for a short distance and then; swung around and followed the shore line toward the Golden Gate.

Captain Giles carried four sandwiches, 'a pint of milk, six quarts of water and »lao army rations.

He left a rubber life-raft behind to save weight, but took a life-jacket and hacksaw with which to cut away the motor if he dropped into the sea.

He is also able to empty the fuel tanks in two minutes with emergency Tilves, after which it is believed that the 'plane would stay afloat for many hours/

Giles will ba out of touch until he reaches Honolulu unless he is sighted by A ship, five of which are reported as being present on the Great Circle routt; which Captain Giles will attempt to follow. These are the Manoa, Ventura, Ondo, Tenyo Maru and the President Garfield.

The :Marin6 Department and the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce received! * message that Giles had passed over Francisco lightship, nineteen miles ®ut to sea, sixteen minutes after his departure, Aying at an altitude of approximately 1000 feet.

' Giles spent the night at the flying field. When the United States Weather Bureau issued a favourable report on tte conditions preparations were immediately made for departure long before ««wn. Giles was in the highest spirits. To® sky was clear and a light wind was Wowing when ho left.