ACROSS THE PACIFIC

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 104, 29 October 1925, Page 7

ACROSS THE PACIFIC

PROPOSED FLIGHT

AUSTRALIA TO NEW ZEALAND,

(FBOM OUn OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

SYDNEY, 23rd October

I The. Pacific Ocean in the Northern Hemisphere has been crossed by airmen. In the south it still remains uncouquercd. That part of.it which is. honoured by the name of the Tasman Sea has long excited the ambitions of many flying men in Australia, and New Zealand too, and plans once progressed as far as two young New Zealandcrs coming to Australia to try to make arrangements for a flight. That project fell into abeyance, and now public interest in this country has been aroused by the proposal Jaiul preliminary negotiations of Captain Kingsford Smith, a . well- : known Australian aviator, to cross the Tasman by air. He and' his friends are somewhat disappointed that his first approaches to the Dominion authorities should have been somewhat cold-shouldered, because of the fact that they coincided with tho elections there, but the instigators of the flight arc not downhearted and arc determined to pursue their intentions. ' According to officials of the Civil Aviation Department in " Melbourne, Captain Kingsford- Smith should be able to cross from Australia to New Zealand in daylight. With the type of flying-boat which they believe Captain Kingsford Smith contemplates using, a non-stop flight of over 1000 miles should be possible. So far the Department has received no official communication from Captain Kingsford Smith, but it is known j that fairly comprehensive plans have been formulated, and that only official support in both countries is needed for Captain Kingsford Smith to announce the complete proposals. Interest in the hazardous Venture has been deepened by the fact that Captain Kingsford Smith Was been in personal communication with Colonel U. H. ■ Brinsmeud; Director of Civil Aviation, and a member of the Air Board.

As soon as the suggested night :is brought oftjeially under the notice of Hid "Department of Civil Aviation, an officer will l)r. detailed lo inspect the flying machine proposed to be used on the trip. Tin. 1 Department Ims power to prevent a .flight it: the Hying vessel and its engine do not comply with the regulations. .For instance, the tise of a land machine over long stretches of water would come under tlio ban. The regulations also prescribe that the personnel of the aeroplane must bo medically fit and the pilot qualified. In the case of Captain Kingsford Smith, however, the Department docs not anticipate any difficulty in Ids complying with the regulations in every respect. The pilot, wlio earned distinction in the Great AVar, afterwards spent several years in the services of the company which conducts the aerial mail between Perth and Derby (AVesterji Australia).