AVIATORS' FIRST MESSAGE

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 53, 11 September 1928, Page 12

AVIATORS' FIRST MESSAGE

(JJy Itatlio.from Southern CrossCopyright.) Took off 5.25 p.m. (Sydney time). Pasaed coast at 5.43, at an altitude, of over 3000 feet. The sky is now slightly overcast. The saino altitude with slight' bumps. Air-speed, 77 miles an hour. „ j

ial visitor, which came and went within almost five minutes. Overnight reports had suggested that Cook Strait might be included in the airmen's course in order to avoid flying over the clouds surmounting the Southera Alps, and it was whispered that a fleeting call on Wellington had been arranged in the interests of a certain lady; but any arrival before noon or thereabouts was hardly anticipated by oven the most sanguine. Hence, when the plane suddenly appeared at a time when many were thinking about breakfast preparatory to setting forth for the day's work, incredulity was rife. It ,was remembered how many people believed they had positively seen and heard the machine flown by Hood and Monerieff when that machine was beyond all doubt lost far out at sea: so statements that the Southern . Cross could be heard or seen were frankly disbelieved by many. The evidence of tho senses, however, soon triumphed ever disbelief, rumour proved to be true, and hundreds of people caught a brief glimpse of the Southern Cross as she circled over the city before heading for Chiistchureh, for the last short I lap of her historic flight. ' From a cloudy sky was heard the unmistakeable hum of the three powerful engines that have stood the Southern Cross in such good stead, flying at a comparatively low altitude the 'plane hove into view. Louder grew tho hum of the engines and more distinct grew tho outline of the giant spreading wings. There was no mistake possible: the Southern Cross had arrived. From mouth to mouth flew the tidings: men, women, and children rushed to tho windows and into the streets. There was littlo time to waste in calling others, and none to waste in persuading doubters. Over the city and Mount Victoria the Southern Cross flew, grey against a grey sky, yet plain enough to enable the lettering paint-