"SMITHY'S" VISIT

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 149, 21 December 1932, Page 10

"SMITHY'S" VISIT

LANDING FACILITIES

POSITION AT RONGOTAI

ROOM FOR SOUTHERN 6ROSS?

A tour of inspection of grounds in 2v"ew Zealand where the Southern Cross can land and take off with safety is to be made after the Christmas holidays by Mr. Wilfrid Kingsfqrd Smith, brother of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, who is to fly across the Tasman Sea to the Dominion early -next year, and Mr. B. Shiel, aviation officer of the Vacuum Oil Company. The towns that will be definitely visited by Sir Charles in the Southern Cross will be New Plymouth, where he will make his first landing in New Zealand, Auckland, Hamilton, Napier-Hastings, Wanganui, Palmerston North, Levin, Masterton, Blenheim, Christehureh, Ashburton, Timaru, Oamaru, Dunedin, ana Invercargill. Other places which will be visited if suitable landing places are available-will be Whangarei, Eotorua, Gisborne, Hawera, Dannevirke, Hokitika, Alexandra, Milton, and Gore. Landing facilities in these towns aie to be inspected by Mr. Kingsford Smith and Mr. Shiel. LENGTHENING LANDING RUN. After inspecting the Eongotai Aerodrome to-day, Mr. Wilfrid Kingsfora Smith stated to a "Post" reporter that, if the City Council will slightly extend the lauding and take-off space there by removing the fence at the south-east corner, and by bringing in and satisfactorily surfacing the threecornored piece of land available there, he will bind his brother to visit Wellington in the Southern Cross in order that the aeroplane may be on exhibition here. This promise is entirely conditional on the suggested extension of the aerodrome stated. -x The new ground mentioned needs a good deal of attention to make it suitable. Part of it has been levelled and covered with rotten rock, but the whole of it would need to be resurfaced for the occasion, though the cost would not be excessive. The tongue of land runs in the direction north and south of the main winds, ana wouia add to the aviation facilities at Eongotai. Mr. Kingsford Smith said that while he could, guarantee a visit for exhibition purposes only if his request were acceded to, the visit could be made irrespective of the direction of the wind at the time. It might be possible, if the winds were suitable during the stay of the Southern Cross, to arrange passenger flights. PASSENGER'S NAME DISCLOSED. The identity of the New Zealand passenger who is to accompany the crew of the Southern Cross has been disclosed as Mr. S. E. Niolson, secretary of the New Zealand Aero Club, the New Plymouth Aero Club, and the Western Federated Aero Club. Mr. Kingsford Smith said to-day that confirmation of Mr. Nielson's inclusion in the party was not received until last evening. Mr. Nielson will leave Auckland for Australia by the Moncwai on 29th December. When it was known that Sir .Charles had decided to ruako his first landing in New Zealand at New Plymouth, the New Plymouth Aero Club undertook development work entailing an expenditure of £900 to provide better landing and taking-off facilities for the huge monoplane. Although the work has permanently improved the aerodrome for tho club's own purposes, it was undertaken as a special work in view of tho flight. ..--....■■ MACHINE'S ACCOMMODATION. The Southern Cross has cabin accommodation for fourteen passengers and riiore can be carried if necessary. The largest number of passengers • ever taken aloft by the machine is twentysix. This was at Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. The weight of passengers has no bearing on the navigation, for the machine can carry a dead weight equivalent to seventy passengers. Mr. Kingsford Smith brought over with him from Australia a film depicting the famous transpacific flight of the Southern Cross, and also the transtasman flight to New Zealand in September, 1928.' Arrangements have been made for Sir Charles to give lectures on flying at the various towns he will visit in New Zealand, and the film will be shown at the same time. On the tour round New Zealand tho Southern Cross will take four or five passengers, ' " .