TASMAN FLIGHT

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21322, 15 November 1934, Page 10

TASMAN FLIGHT

I Hewett and Kay's Success STRUCK FENCE ON LANDING PALMERSTON NORTH REACHED (»RBSS ASSOCIATION TELEGJJAM.) PALMERSTON NORTH, Nov. 14. Landing at the Milson aerodrome at 8.4 o'clock this evening, after first sighting New Zealand near Westport, Messrs J. D. Hewett and C. E. Kay, with Mr Frank Stewart as wireless operator, ended a fine flight across the Tasman Sea. They left the Richmond aerodrome, NtfW South Waled, at 8 a.m. New Zealand time. Their aeroplane is the De Havilland Dragon Hdpide which they flew in the Melbourne Centenatry air race. Thte Tasman crossing completed the first flight from London to New Zealand. The aviators circled the Milson aerodrome three times from a low attitude, in ah effort to look over the ground in the semi-darkness, Efnergehcy flares were lit and the aviators came in to make a perfect landing, btit overran the aerodrome to strike a wife fence. No great damage was done to the aeroplane, though the starboard propeller tip was bent and the tail Wheel damaged, the tyre bursting. It was an annoying finish to an otherwise magnificent flight; but the damage Will be easily repaired. An6ther chain to Work in Would have avoided the mishap. The aviators Were dog-tired. With 260 gallons of petrol, enough iot 14 hours' flying, and a favourable weather report, the aviators left the Jtichmond aerodrome at 5.45 a.m., Australian time. The machine took off easily—in fact, Mr Hewett said it cdiild have lifted twice the load. It ■tfits anticipated that the weather "Would be tough for the first hour, and this proved to be the case. The weather was fair at Sydney; but it was not long before the aeroplane rah into heavy weather arid bucked abotit considerably. Rain showers added to the discomfort of the situation.

The ehgihefs were functioning perfectly, and to increase the range of Visibility, Mr Hewett, who was at the controls all the way, took the I)ragon Raplde down low over the water. He flew just above the waves for three hours.

Roligh Weather All the time the weather was rougL; but if the meteorologist's report was to be relied upon, it could licit be very long, they thought, before they would strike clearer weather. Within four hours conditions improved as had been predicted, 2nd the pilots decided to climb 5000 feet. The day was much finer tip there, and they flew above the clouds for another two hours. "Unfortunately above the clouds they were not able to estimate the amount of drift. They drifted south; but how far they could not judge. Ffom that on, the weather continued fine. Shortly before 5 p.m. they got their first sight of land, and discovered a little later that it •was the high country behind Westport. At 5.30 they were over a lighthouse near Westport. They -turned north and followed the coastline till near Farewell Spit, where they changed direction and flew across Golden Bay to Blenheim, having considered the advisability of landing there. Mr Hewett added 1161*6: ''And it wasn't a bad idea, cither."

Landing Described OV6r Blenheim they decided to pU6h north, possibly to Auckland, flftd made contact with the North Island at Paekakariki. It was getting dark by now, and they decided to land at the Milson aerodrome. They sighted Palmerston North, and fi6w"ov6r the city, easily picking up the aerodrome, where officers of the Manawatu Aero Club had made preparations for a night landing by setting Otit regulation flares. The ftiachine, lit up with navigation lights, circled the aerodrome three times before Mr Hewett glided down for a closer look. He then went up again and swung into position for a landing, which he made but overshot. The result was that he did not have sufficient room in which to pull up, and the machine breasted the fence at the eastern end of the aerodrome, causing the damage already described.

Record Flight

Thfe flight of nine and three-quar-1 ter hours from coast to coast is a record one, and throughout the machine behaved perfectly, the engines rteVer giving the slightest anxietyAlthough Palmerston North had hoped that the aviators would land at MilsOn during the afternoon or tfttly evening, when advice was received that they had been sighted at Westport it was considered that Mi* Hewett would make for one of the nearer aerodromes. It was thus at very short notice that the aerodrome At Milson was prepared for the night landing. Oil receipt of a telephone message ffom Squadron Leaded T. M. "Wilkes* Director of Air Services, flar&J) WCOrt hurriedly set out; but M* Hewsit Bald they were not tha best lot flight landing, floodlights being preferable. Apart from being dog tired from the mental strain of the long flight over the water, the airmen were ■well. Shortly after landing they were at a hotel enjoying the second hearty meal of the day, the first gMk having been eaten in Australia as an I