SURPRISE START

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 74, 28 March 1931, Page 10

SURPRISE START

NEW TASMAN FLIGHT

CHICHESTER SETS OUT

TWO ISLAND STOPS

SOLO NAVIGATION EFFORT

In an attempt to fly to Sydney by an indirect route, Flight-Lieutenant F. C. Chichestor left Parenga, in the far north of New Zealand, for Norfolk Island, at 11.30 a.m. to-day. From Norfolk Island tho aviator intends to fly to Lord Howe Island, and from there to Sydney. Flight-Lieutenant Chichester is flying solo in the Moth aeroplane in which he flew from England to Australia, and which has been converted into a seaplane. He flew from the Hobsonville air base, at Auckland, to Parenga this morning, and was reported passing over the coast en route for Norfolk Island at noon. It is estimated that the aviator should reach Norfolk Island in about five hours with the wind in its present quarter, but he has petrol supplies enough to last him for nine hours. The aeroplane is equipped with a wireless transmitting set, and the pilot intends sending out his position, taking observations of the sun, every hour, on the half hour. The set operates on a wavelength of 43 metres, and the call sign is ZKAK. "A GEEAT TEST." Norfolk Island is about 430 mile* ; from the point of departure, and, at i the Director of Air Services, "Wing - Commander Grant Dalton, told "Tin j Post" this morning, "if he finds suol i a tiny spot of land it will be a joUJ-f good effort. The whole thing is ;a great test of navigation." Flight-Lieutenant . Chichester ',' i/s aiming for the smallest landfall over attempted by an aviator flying so? (a. He proposes to take observations of t ho sun, and in this connection is said to be the only flyer who has done his o,' wa navigation when flying solo. In c ase of accident, he is carrying a collapsj .ble boat and a full set of navigating instruments. The marking on Ms mad dne is ZK-AKK. WEATHER IN THE TASMAH . "An. anti-cyclone covers the Tas man Sea at present, pressure being rs ther high," stated Dr. E. Kidson, Goi rernment Meteorologist, to-day. "1^ the north, the winds are moderate * autheasterly, and the weather so far c ,s we can toll is fairly clear. The wi id at Norfolk Island was moderate t iouth-south-east, and the weather cleaii Seas slight. The weather was rather c ;loudy on the east coast in the northeii i part of New Zealand, but clear on tluf j west coast. Generally speaking, tho xr eather is fairly favourable, with a fair wind, a little bit strong."