SOUTHERN CROSS

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 39, 16 February 1933, Page 13

SOUTHERN CROSS

RECONSTRUCTION WORK

TEST FLIGHT NEXT WEEK

VISIT TO WELLINGTON

It is expected that Sir Charles Kingsford Smith will resume passenger 'flying in the Southern Cross, which is at present undergoing repairs at Palmerston North on Saturday, February 25. Mr. Wilfrid Smith, 'who has been on a holiday visit to Auckland, arrived at Wellington yesterday, and he told a "Post" representative today that he called at Palmerston North on his way to Wellington to ascertain what progress was being made with the repair | work to the machine, and he could definitely say, that the Southern Cross] would be ready for a test flight' on Friday, February ,24. Passenger flights would be conducted , iii- Palmerston North by Sir Charles, who was expected to arrive in New Zealand next week from Australia, on February 25 and 26. He intended to visit Masterton on February 27, and Levin the following day, after which the South Island tour would begin. Mr. Wilfrid Smith leaves for Christchurch by the ferry steamer tonight to make arrangements and map out an itinerary for the southern tour. - The Southern Crosjs will spend about a fortnight in the South Island, and it is expected that it will arrive at Wellington on Friday, March 17. Provided there is a favourable' southerly wind, Sir Charles will make passenger flights from the Rongotai Aerodrome. on March 18 and 19. Should there be no wind, it is doubtful whether the huge, monoplane will be able to make flights. "Sir Charles is quite satisfied with Rongotai, and wishes to congratulate the City Council and- the Wellington Aero Club for the amount of work they have done to the aerodrome to make it suitable, for the Southern .Cross to land," said Mr. Smith. ■-'■'

RETURN FLIGHT POSSIBLE,

Mr. Smtih said it was.quite.possible that Sir Charles would fly the Southern Cross back-; to, Australia) but he had to wait for definite advice from Dr. Kidson, Dominion Meteorologist. At the present-Dr. Kidson was of the opinion that the weather would be favourable during the' latter part. of March, but he would be able to furnish a more definite report next month. If Sir Charies decided ■to -&y back he would take off from the Ninety Mile Beacfy, which was fifty miles nearer to Australia than any other suitable taking-off place in New Zealand. Letters suggesting suitable taking-off places had been received from many centres in the Dominion, 7. but as every drop of petrol counted on the trip across the Tasman Sea, Sir Charles had to take, off from the nearest point to Australia. In'an endea/vour to complete the repair work in the shortest possible time, three shifts of'five men each have been working on the -Southern Cross. . At times up to twenty men have been working on the -machine. Apart from the damaged wing, there was no; structural damage, and no trouble is anticipated when the machine takes the air for the test flight. ; ; - , Mr. Smith said that Sir Charles'sj plans when ho- returned to Australia j were indefinite at present. j