THE SOUTHERN CROSS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19971, 4 July 1930, Page 13

THE SOUTHERN CROSS.

TRANSCONTINENTAL FLIGHT. ARRIVAL AT CHICAGO. (UHITKD PSBSS ASSOCIATION—BT SLECTKIO TBLZQBAPH —COPTBIOHT.) NEW YOBK, July 2. A Roosevelt Field message states that the Southern Cross took off at 7.5 a.m. to-day. for Chicago, en route for the Pacific Coast. The flyers will leave Chicago on Thursday for Salt Lake City, continuing on Friday to Oakland. Wing-Commander Kingaford Smith said he had planned to sell the Southern Cross, and expected to return east in a fortnight and sail for England and thence home. Kingsford Smith, after crossing Chicago City to visit the endurance aeroplane City of Chicago, which had just passed 506 hours in the air, and greeting the wearied flyers with a quick dip and double circle, returned from Sky Harbour escorted by a group of aeroplanes. He landed at 5.15 p.m. at Cur-tis-Wright airport.

STORY OF THE TRIP. CROSSING THE ALEGHANIES. (Beceived July 3rd, 5.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, July 2. "There is not much to say about the trip from New York to Chicago," said the Wing-Commander. "We are all sorry to leave New York without looking into more aviation activities. There was a heavy fog at the beginning of our trip, and we saw little of Pennsylvania and the Aleghanies, but enough to roalise that night mail flyers have a jpb. The clouds lay like blankets over the mountains, and now and again we got a glimpse of a farm yellow with wheat. Once we came down through trying to fly under some stuff. Ahead waff a ridge which I wanted to hop over to get into the next valley, still under the c'.oude, but it did not work. As the old girl started to climb the ridge she slid into a down dr/tft, and the more she climbed the lower she sank. We banked around and started again, but it was like a horse refusing to jump. By air ia certainly the way to vißit Chicago. We looked for the endurance aeroplane. The Hunter family is certainly doing its bit for aviation. We pulled alongside and gave them a cheerio. One of the boys climbed out and she did not appear bo badly off."

MESSAGE TO PRESIDENT HOOVER.

APPRECIATION OF HOSPITALITY. (Received July 3rd, 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, July 2. President Hoover and other officials have received messages from WingCommander Kingsford Smith and his companions thanking them for their welcome. The message to President Hoover stated! "As we fly over the AJeghanies towards your own California, Mr President, in our gallant old Fokker the Southern Cross, may we take, advantage of the radio whicb saved, us in the fogs over the Grand Banks, to express onr deep appreciation which we fee] of the honour which you have conferred upon us in .receiving us at Washington. May we, British, Irish, and Dutch, take this means of conveying to you our high regard and respect." ENDURANCE FLYING. RELIEF OF CREWS PROPOSED.

(UNITED FB2ESB ASSOCIATION —BT EI4ECTBIC TELEGRAPH —COPYBIGHT.) (Received July 4th, 1 a.m.) NEW YORK, July 3. Three aeroplanes flew from Detroit to undertake the strangest endurance flight in the history of aviation. Thej will start at the same time. Besides refuelling, the crews will be relieved regularly. The refuelling aeroplane will fly above, letting the fuel down and will then fly below, fresh pilot.climbing up rope ladders. The pilots relieved will drop in parachutes. Each aeroplane is to have radio equipment.

FLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA. DELHI, July 2. Messrs Hook and Matthews have arrived at Akyab.