SOUTHERN CROSS

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19668, 11 July 1929, Page 9

SOUTHERN CROSS

NEARING JOURNEY'S END. REPORTED OVER PARIS. ARRANGEMENTS FOR WELCOME AT CROYDON. (UHITED ISBSS ASSOCIATION—BY ELECTRIC TEI.ZGBAFH—COEVaiGET.) (Received July 11th, 12.36 a.m.) LONDON, July 10. Squadron - Leader Kingsford Smith sent the following wireless message to the Air Ministry at noon to-day: "We are now heading up through France. It is fine and clear here. We expect to reach Croydon Aerodrome at 2.40 p.m." Another Message stated: "Over Paris. All well. Expect to arrive at Croydon aerodrome at 3 p.m." The monoplane passed over Lyons at 10 o'clock. Major-General Sir Sefton lirancker, Director of Civil Aviation, has gone to Croydon to assist at the reception to the flyers.—Australian Press Association, United Service. DEPARTURE FOR LONDON. AHEAD OF FLIGHT RECORD. (Received July 10th, 10.50 p.m.) ROME, July 10. The Southern Cross arrived at 2.35 yesterday and left to-day at 4.55 a.m. The airmen expect to reach London this afternoon. Prominent Italians who are interested in aviation motored out and had luncheon with Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith and his companions at Littorio airport. Replying to the toast of their health, Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith said ho had never seen a better-equipped airport. He appreciated the reception and would take an early opportunity of returning to Rome. Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith, in an interview, said that he was delighted to find the Southern Cross was two days ahead of the fastest time for the Australia to England flight. "We are tired, but we are fit, and I would do it all over again if it were necessary; but if I had to repeat the trip I would use a lighter machine," he said. "The Southern Cross is extremely heavy when fully loaded, weighing more than six and a half tons. The majority of taking-off grounds, if wet or sandy, will not carry that weight. We struck a bamboo pole at Calcutta which was placed there by some stupid native when leaving." —Australian Press Association, United crvice.

When the Southern Cross arrives at Croydon, Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith and his companions will have established a new speed record for a flight between Australia and England, completing the journey in 14 days. The record was held previously by Squadron-Leader Bert Hinkler, who in February, 1928, made a solo flight from England to Australian in 15} days, covering 10,340 miles.

The approximate distance covered bv the Southern Cross in the flight ffom Australia to England is 9490 miles, made up as follows:—June 27th, Derby-Singapore, 2020 miles; June 30th, Singapore-Singora, 450 miles, and Singora-Rangoon, 680 miles; July 2nd, Rangoon-Calcutta, 640 miles; Julv 3rd, Calcutta-Allahabad, 420 miles; July 4th, Allahabad-Karachi, 920 miles; July 7th, Karachi-Basra, 1360 miles, and Basra-Bagdad, 290 miles; July Bth, Bagdad-Athens, 1250 miles;: July 9th, Athens-Rome, 660 miles- Kome-Croydon, 900 miles. With the hop of 2100 miles from Sydney to Derby before the flight against the record commenced, the monoplane flew 11,690 miles. The route followed by Hinkler when he clipped 12 days off the previous record established by Sir Ross Smith was:—Croydon. Rome, Malta, Tebrock, Ramleh, Basra, Jask, Karachi, Cawnpore, Calcutta, Rangoon, Burma, Singapore, Bandoeng, Bima, Darwin.