“I JUST FLEW ACROSS”

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21941, 16 November 1936, Page 10

“I JUST FLEW ACROSS”

MR CLARK DESCRIBES HIS FLIGHT THE TAKE-OFF IN THE DARK (IMIKSS ASSOCIATION TEI.KGItAM.) WELLINGTON, November 15. “It was nothing very much,” Mr Clark said modestly when interviewed by the “Dominion” by telephone 10 minutes after he landed at Blenheim. “I just flew across—that’s about all. I took off from Richmond in pitch darkness at 3.34 a.m., and for about an hour and a half until dawn broke I was flying blind across the sea. After daylight I struck clouds and squalls of rain, and that sort of ‘ thing, and I varied my height above the sea to suit different conditions. For the last part of the way the weather was quite clear, but then I ran into a head wind, which slowed me up considerably.- It was a better day for flying the' Tasman in the other direction.” , . , , Mr Clark said that his machine had behaved splendidly without playing up at all at any stage or giving him the slightest cause for anxiety. His supply of petrol had held out, but because of the delay caused by the south-east wind it had begun to run short as he approached the coast. This was his reason for landing at Blenheim. He intended to fly on to Christchurch immediately while daylight held. He was tired, but not too tired for that. . Asked if at any time he felt worried Mr Clark replied, “The take-off was the only thing; the machine was heavily loaded, and I was afraid I might not manage to get her into the air. It was not very pleasant taking off into the darkness. I'was not so concerned about picking up the land. I’m not quite sure just when I sighted land. I am all mixed up at present about the times. I think it was about 4.45 p.m. when I picked up land at Cape Farewell, just where I expected to do so. “Good navigation, did you say? Oh, I don’t know. Where did I learn it? I just sort of picked it up. I’m afraid I’m in a tearing hurry. lam flying on straight away to Wigram. I must go now.” %