ATTEMPT BY SMITH

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 127, 31 May 1928, Page 11

ATTEMPT BY SMITH

START LIKELY TO-DAY CONFIDENT OF SUCCESS ff«!ted Tress Assoclation--By Klectrle Tel«graph—Copyright. Australian Press Association. (JJeceived 31st May, 11 a.m.) OAKLAND (pal.), 30tli May. Captain Kiugsford Smith announced that lie is planning to take off on his flight across the Pacific on Thursday morning. Later lie announced that lap would take a short test flight during the afternoon, after which ho would say definitely whether he would start to-mor-row. The airplane is now made ready for departure. Instruments for cheeking {he air speed, the motor speed, wind direction, and altitude, and a magnetic compass, were carefully checked for accuracy to-day, and placed aboard the airplane. Navigation charts for the flight to Honolulu were also brought to the field and placed on the instrument board. A supply of gasoline, and oil waa taken ! aboard, and all that remained to • be installed was fapd for the trip. Smith and hia companions ' are restloss, and anxious to get started. Smih said:"This flight has been planned, since last autumn. Each time wo were about ready for the take-off circumstances arose which forced a delay. The ; airplano is iv perfect condition now ! and we are fully confident of making ' our goal." Other members of the crew expressed equal optimism, , Mr. Guy Turner, superintendent of ! the Oakland airport, inspected the airplane to-day, and found it ready for the trip. Ho said: "The' Southern Cross, will certainly make its goal. It is mechanically perfect' now, and the few imperfections that were' revealed during the- endurance flight attempts last autumn have been completely eliminated." Mr. Turner pointed out that on the last endurance flight attempt the Southern Cross was in the air for nearly fifty hours, or twice the time necessary to fly from Oakland airport to Honolulu. Warner, one of Smith's companions, will maintain hourly radio communication throughout the flight with shore stations and ships at sea. The weather forecasts indicated gdod flying conditions along the Pacific Coast on 'Thursday, and fair weather is predicted for a distance of a thons* and,miles at sea, with fresh northerly winds and spmo cloudiness thenoo. to Honolulu. Kingsford Smith and his three companions took off on a short trial flight over San Francisco Bay, carrying a load amounting to half the airplane's total petrol capacity. Smith stated that if the flight was satisfactory he will depart to-morrow with favourable weather over the Pacific..