SPLENDID FLIGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 64, 17 March 1930, Page 9

SPLENDID FLIGHT.

DUNEDIN TO AUCKLAND. CAPTAIN HEWETT'S RECORD. OVER 600 MILES IN 10 HOURS. Captain J. D—Hewett, of Auckland, created a long distance record for New Zealand when he flew non-stop from Dunedin to Auckland on Saturday, a journey, oi. over 600 miles in 10 hours. Captain Hewett used a De Havilland Moth light aeroplane, fitted with a Gypsy engine, and took olf from Green i Island aerodrome at 0.40 a.m. The weather was good and the visibility] excellent in the Otago Province. lhe pilot; who' flew alone, took 65 gallons ot petrol, having fitted extra tankage. The Moth passed over Wellington at noon, and was reported over Palmerston North 75 minutes later.' Captain Hewett reached Auckland at 4.40 p.m., making a good landing at the Auckland Aero Club's aerodrome at Mangere, where'lie was greeted and warmly congratulated by officials of the club and a numbei of friends. The flight was not made on a direct air line, otherwise the Moth could have i registered faster time, lhe ail mail flew via Christchurch, Wellington, Palmerston North and thence over the King Country, following the general line of the Main Trunk Railway: He used the registered number of his 'plane, ZKAAR as his radio call, operating on a length of 36 metres. Interviewed on his arrival at Mangere, Captain Hewett said the flight, which was most enjoyable and .comfortable, was made in splendid weather. Passing over the South Island, he met with a light.northerly wind, and on leaving Wellington he flew against a light nor'-west wind right up to a few. mjles from Mangere. Although he had head winds all the way, they were not strong, consequently few bumps were met with. "I fee] as fit as a fiddle, and could have gone on for another four hours," he said "By aeroplane is the only way to travel." Captain Hewett added that he did not find the journey at all lonely. He took a small Quantity of sandwiches with him,, as well,as chocolate and a thermos flask of tea. As he passed over each town the pilot glided down to 500 ft on occasions so that those belpw might see the

number of his 'plane. He flew at varying altitudes, and crossing over Cook Strait he went up to 8000 ft. A number of copies of Saturday morning's "Otago Daily Times" were brought to Auckland by Captain Hewett, as well as a number of letters, including one from the Mayor of Dunedin (Mr. R. SBlack) to Mr. Rudd, assistant manager of the Auckland branch of the Union S.S. Co., and another from tbe Mayor to the Dunedin Club, addressed to the secretary, Mr. C. S. Munn. The flight was a fine performance 011 the part of Captain Hewett, who thoroughly deserved his success. He had met vith much ill luck in his previous efforts create a record for this nonstop flight. He originally intended, to fly from Auckland to Dunedin in two stages, stopping at Wellington, but when he' started a few weeks ago, late one afternoon, after being delayed through fitting an extra benzine tank, he was compelled to land near Feilding for the night, owing to hazy weather which he met with. The next day, when taxi-ing to take off from the aerodrome at Lyall Bay, a strong gust of wind overturned, his Moth, smashing the propeller and. tail skid and crumpling the winge. The pilot escaped injury. On Friday he flew from Wellington to Dunedin without a stop, arriving at G. 30 p.m., after having been in the air six hours. The previous longest non-stop flight made in usew • Zealand was that of Flight-Lieutenant S. Wallingford, who flew from Wellington, after the air pageant, and reached Auckland in less than four hours. >