TASMAN FLIGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 11, 13 January 1934, Page 10

TASMAN FLIGHT.

SOUTHERN CROSS.

NO NEWS SINCE DAWN.

"GOING MAY GET ROUGH."

lATBK. SILENCE UNEXPLAINED

On her fifth flight across the Taeman. the monoplane Southern Croes left Richmond aerodrome, near Sydney, at 2.9 a.m. (4.9 a.m. New Zealand time) to-day. Before leaving,- Sir Charles Kingsford Smith eaid he expected to be in New Zealand in 14 hours—about 0 o'clock to-night. Aβ far as could be ascertained at 3 p.m. to-day, no message from the 'plane has been received since daybreak, when it was reported that "Smithy", had been relieved at the controls, and everything was "going according to schedule." The silence of the 'plane since then has not been explained. Possibly the wireless transmitter has broken down. The crew consists of Sir Charles and his co-pilot, Captain J. T. Pethybridge, Captain P. G. Taylor, navigator, Mr. ,T. W. Stannage, wireless operator, Mr. J. Percival, a journalist, and Mr. S. E. Nielson, secretary of the New Zealand Aero Clubs. Before retiring for a few hours' rest last night, the commander supervised the preparation of flares for the take-off. The weather was perfect, and it had been reported earlier in the evening that conditions over the Tasnian Sea had much, improved, except in the vicinity of New Zealand, .where the weather was unsettled and cloudy. Towards midnight a crowd began to assemble to say farewell to the monoplane, -which (the Press Association reports) took the air at 2.9 a.m. after a run of 500 yards. Are lamps and flares lit up the runway. In a final message "Smithy" eaid: "This will be the fifth crossing the 'old bus' has made, and I don't think there will be any difficulty in getting there. In 14 hours we shall be in New Zealand." The 'plane carries 630 gallons of petrol, sufficient for IS hours. . Messages from " Smithy." The first message concerning the progress of the flight, from Sir Charles Kingsford Smith to the Press Association, said: "Off at 2.07 a.m. Perfect, still morning. Over Sydney at 1000 ft. A fickle moon made a sparkling carpet on the water. Final departure bearing was taken as we passed the Makura to starboard. Climbing for height. Hope for westerly at 5000 ft. Chilly." Messages received from the 'plane in Sydney up to 4 o'clock this morning indicated that all was well. One, at 3.30 a.m. (Australian time) stated: "Scattered storm clouds are getting thicker. The . going may get a bit rough." Another said, " 'Smithy' was at the controls until dawn came, and then came into the cabin shivering. Stannage is in touch with a ship. Everything is going according to schedule."