SMITH'S ATTEMPT

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 126, 30 May 1928, Page 9

SMITH'S ATTEMPT

MAY START TO-DAY. TESTING THE MACHINE United Press Association—By Electric TcUgraph—Copyright. (Received 30th May, 8.30 a.m.) SAN FRANCISCO, 29 th May. Tho monoplane South-.rr Cross was given final tests on Monday, preparatory to a. four-stop hop to Sydney, with Kingsford Smith. The airplane is scheduled to hop off on Thursday morning, or possibly Wednesday, weather permitting. Tho first goal is Honolulu. Mechanics aro still working on Kingsford Smith's airplane, and expect to finish this afternoon, when Smith and Ulm plan.a short test flight. Repair* men aro grooming tho airplane to the last possiblo finish. A mechanic has been sleeping with it to ward off souvenir-hunting sightseers. The runway has- been rolled to tho smoothest surface, and the airport authorities anticipate no delays to the start of the flighty from ground conditions. Smith will attempt to 'lower Maitlaml's Oakland-Honolulu speed record, which is believed to be possible, since Maitlaml slowed his airplane and awaited daylight when arriving at Hawaii last year. Smith plans to reach Honolulu, from whence he will bo ferried to Barking Sands, on the Island of Kauai, from where he will take off for, Suva. If he finds a strong tail wind here, Smith said that ho might proceed direct to Brisbane without stopping at the Fijis; otherwise ho wil refuel at Suva. Tho airplane carries a short-wave radio sending set, operating on 33 metres, also a-600-metre portable emor- ■ gency set, which is waterproof ami provided with a kite antennao for hoisting. Should the airplane bo forced down to the sea and tho flyers be compelled to launch rubber boats, one receiving set will be carried. From the Golden Gate to Honolulu the flyers will have the benefit of army radio' beacons at Presidio, San Francisco, and on Oahu, after which their solo dependence on finding the Fijis will be their navigating ability and three, compasses.1