TASMAN FLIGHT.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19201, 6 January 1928, Page 7

TASMAN FLIGHT.

NEW ZEALANDERS OPTIMISTIC.

MONOPLANE BEHAVING WELL

(BI CABLE PBES3 ASSOCUTIOK-COPTBIGBT * aVSTBALUS AND S.z. CABLE ASSOCIATE*.)

SYDNEI, January 5,

The New Zealand aviators, Captain Kight and Lieutenants Hood and Moncrieff, express satisfaction with their monoplane, and anticipate no difficult-!-during the Tasman flight. They intend to take no risks, and will not hop o ff until all conditions are absolutely in their favour. They anticipate leaving about two o'clock in the inornin 2 -,nd landing at Wellington at six o'clock in the evening, or thereabouts. Thev will head direct for Farewell Spit. The aviators are almost certain to be Lieutenants Moncrieff and Hood. Both these men speak most highly of Captain Eight's organisation and the arrangements made with the Australian Government. Captain Kight says that everything has gone smoothly from the jump.

Mechanics are now working on (he machine, and making it as perfect as possible for the flight.

Captain Kight says that the flight to New Zealand will not be started before Saturday at the earliest, or maybe Sunday night.

He stated that the reason for landing at Bongong on Tuesday was to ascertain their position. They were flying strictly by compass reckoning in order to ascertain how the compass would behave in the journey across the Tasman. They took 110 notice of railway lines or other landmarks. When they saw a high mountain they thought it was the Blue Mountains, but later found it to be Bowral. The only thing that went wrong on the flight was. tho wireless apparatus. The airmen expressed gratification at Mr Bruce withdrawing his prohibition on. the flight. They said: "We realise we are making the flight at our own responsibility, and without in any way involving either the Australian or New Zealand Governments."

START TO BE MADE ON MONDAY

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

WELLINGTON, January 5.

The Director of tho Meteorological Department has received a cable message from the Sydney Meteorological Office that the airmen are planning to leave Australia for New Zealand about 2 a.m. on Monday.