AHEAD OF TIME.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 190, 13 August 1928, Page 7

AHEAD OF TIME.

SOUTHERN CROSS. One Man Present At Perth Landing. FLIGHT FROM MELBOURNE. (Received 10.30 a.m.) PERTH, this day. The Southern Cross landed at Maylands' aerodrome yesterday morning after a non-stop flight of 1700 miles from Point Cook, Melbourne. The 'plane was flown by SquadronLeader Kingsford Smith and Mr. C. T. P. Ulm, with Mr. H. A. Litchfield (navigator) and Mr. T. H. McWilliam (wireless operator), the crew intended for the flight across the Tasman Sea. The landing was remarkable for the fact that only one person was present, namely, the aerodrome official, Mr. Scale, who had marked the landing spot by laying down two huge sheets which enabled the aviators to make a line landing on the waterlogged fiat. "How do you do everybody?" remarked Kingsford Smith when he was greeted cordially by the enthusiastic Mr. Scale, who hastened to explain that nobody expected the aviators, who were two hours and a-half before the scheduled hour of arrival. Smith cheerily answered: "It is better to be here early than not at all." The news of their arrival spread like wildfire and cars filled with people were soon swarming over the enclosure. Mr. H. Millington, Minister o f Agriculture, welcomed the aviators on behalf of the Government and apologised for his lateness, which was due to confusion in the times, somebody in authority having failed to realise that Perth was two hours different from Melbourne time. Tho airmen were worn and tired. Mr. Litchfield and Mr. McWilliam were cramped and unable to stand after alighting from the cockpit, but soon recovered itr.d faced the photographers. The crew gathered up their own luggage and were driven to the Palace Hotel, where Mr. Litchfield and Mr. McWilliam went straight to bed. The aviators will be entertained by civic and other authorities to-day, tomorrow and on Wednesday, and the return journey to Adelaide will begin next Saturday or Sunday. The Southern Cross left Point Cook, Melbourne, at noon on Saturday.

They reached the We6t Australian capital yesterday at 9.15 a.m. The distance in a straight line is about 1700 miles, and the course lay across the Great Bight of Australia between Adelaide and Fremantle.

The airmen passed through a heavy rainstorm last night, but at 2 a.m. to-day the machine was going well.

While the storm was at its worst the 'plane had to be flown "blind" for a time. A wireless message to Sydney this morning reported that all the flyers wire well, but cold. GREAT FEAT. Smith And Ulm Pay Tributes To Companions. RECORD MAKING FLIGHT. (Received 12 noon.) PERTH, this day. The approximate distance between Melbourne and Perth is 2000 air mile J, which was accomplished in 23h 24m. It was the first non-stop flight over the distance and is regarded as one of tlic finest feats of aviation, more so as the aviators encountered a head wind and were never more than five miuutes without rain and blind flying. SquadronLeader Kingsford Smith and FlightLieutenant C. T. P. Ulm pay warm tributes to Messrs. H. A. Litchfield (navigator) and McWilliam (wireless operator). AERIAL ACTION. NIGHT ATTACK ON LONDON. (United Service.) LONDON, August 12. Three hundred aeroplanes will take part in the coming week's night manoeuvres. There is to be a bombing attack on the London defences.