HOP, STEP, JUMP.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 165, 14 July 1928, Page 9

HOP, STEP, JUMP.

ACROSS THE TASMAN.

Southern Cross Flight Draws

Nearer.

AUGUST 1 OR 4 PROBABLE DATE

(Received 11 a.m.)

SYDNEY, this day.

Squadron-Leader C. Kingsford Smith says he expects to begin his flight to New Zealand in the Southern Cross between August 1 and 4. He will hop off at midnight, Sydney time, and take advantage of the full moon. It was originally intended to await the new propeller blades which are due on August 4, but the flyers are prepared to venture with the present blades in order to have a good moon. A statement was published to-day to the effect that Lieutenant Keith Anderson would accompany Kingsford Smith and Flight-Lieutenant C. T. Ulm on the flight, but this is contradicted by the last-named. He says the fourth member of the party will be a New Zealand wireless operator selected by the NewZealand authorities.

Flight-Lieutenant C. T. Ulm, discussing the pending flight of the Southern Cross to New Zealand, stated that there was a vague possibility that the Tasman flight might be delayed until August 31. The organisation of the venture, he said, was not by any means completed, and nothing was being left to chance.

He added that a trial flight with the Southern Cross would be held in about a fortnight. The wireless apparatus was undergoing a complete overhaul, and would be in better condition than when the aeroplane left San Francisco.

Flight-Lieutenant Ulm anticipates that' the New Zealand flight will begin at about nine o'clock at night, and the 'plane will reach New Zealand from 14 to 19 hours later.

Many requests, he concluded, had been from the various towns in New Zealand asking them to land at each particular place, but this was a matter to which they were looking to the Dominion Government for guidance. Meanwhile no landing ground has been selected.

A Press Association message from Christchurch says that to replenish the fuel tanks of the Southern Cross 1200 gallons of petrol will be needed. A big motor tank truck will have to make two trips to the aerodrome to complete the operation. Besides petrol 40 gallons of oil will be taken on board.