SOUTHERN CROSS VISIT

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 63, 16 March 1933, Page 12

SOUTHERN CROSS VISIT

AERODROME IMPROVEMENTS

PLAIN'S FOE AIE SHOW

There is great activity at the Kongotai aerodrome today in preparation for what is likely to be'a record for weekend flyiiig, not onl^ for 'Wellington, but for the Dominion. Everything depends upon the weather luck, but the indications are that it will be fair, with a not. too heavy southerly breeze. Under these conditions the extended runway should be of ample' length for tha Southern Cross.

Though left rather late, the surfacing of a considerable area of clay in front of the hangar is being pushed ahead rapidly, and will be completed tonight. This clay patch has given the hangar staff, members of the Aero Club, and visiting pilots a tremendous amount of trouble, for in southerly weather grit and dust blew straight into the hangar, and when machines were taxi-ing from the hangar the heavy slip stream from propellers smothered other machines with grit. '"■ . .' ■

NEW BINDING SURFACE.

The foundation material is a mixture of ashes, clinker, sand, and, earth,'much cheaper than the usual crushed metal and sand used in street paving,' and seemingly the mixture sets solidly ia quick time, but as only about twentyfour hours will elapse between the finishing of" the surface and the arrival of the Southern Cross a f.airly severe test will be applied. The landing wheels are not ■ likely to affect the surface, but the tail skid may tear up tha skin. . . .

Other work in hand at the aerodrome today includes the erection of a members' stand, the fencing off of an enclosure for the Southern Cross, barriers to ensure that the main landing area will be kept clear, and notices giving directions as to parking, inquiry offices an office for the enrolment of competitors in the "Evening Post" Aviation Scholarship, and so on. Loud speakers are being installed around the aerodrome. The mechanical staff is completing the overhaul of all local machines to ensure that they are tuned to the highest efficiency for - the. Aero Club demonstrations which will.be features of the programmes for Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

PAEKING FOR EARLY ARRIVALS.

In addition to.the parking arrangements ■ in yesterday's Post," plans hare been made for the parking of a limited' number of cars inside the aerodrome boundary An arrangement has been made which will not affect the useful area of the landing field if one line of cars is kept close to the fence. There will be a. special enclosure for members' cars It will be necessary for traffic to follow, the directions of.traffic.officers, otherwise congestion and delay are bound to follow. Under no circumstances ™ g? be all°wed on the aerodrome. liie club displays on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, will consist of formating flying by Flying Officer C. M. Duthie and Pilot Officers S. Meachem and M. K. Archibald, stunting by Squadron-Leader Stedman and Mr JJuthie, a demonstration of gliding (ia a towed engineless glider) by ClubCaptain 0. C. Waite, -a dog fig'ht'^belr Cw^ lgllt Lieut*nant 6. Bolt and tT,7 l lte > and crazy firing by MBolt The dog figh/ stunt is' 7 most whl n ' Pf.rticulari^ the finale, when O n e machlne comes i<jwn °* but quite realistic, flames. Thecra^ S-ofp f E dem°nstration-.of-ho^ anyone can learn to fly from the book' if he knows enough to start with. If--0 ta^ S/ c, f«^16 an exhibition at aI S sl£° tlng from a machine flying at a low altitude will also be riven SCHOLARSHIP PLYING DEFERRED | winner, Mr. G. P. Cachemail c on ££ Ifir^ training flight has not t °\™ Other Aviation Scholarship flights will be deferred until Monday after, noon, as all c l ub machines will be fully engaged during the weekend X i here is no formal arrangement for the participation of outside club or private machines in the weekend de-' ZZt? °fr' bl? t ifc * P">l>able. that several will arrive on Saturday and Sunday As the hangar space is pretty 1 well taken up, visiting machines will have to bo tied down. The Southern Cross and visiting machines will be flyLg Uhours? OaStailt gUard dUrii S nOa"

ARRIVAL OF SOUTHERN CROSS.

Sir Charles Kingsford 'Smith ■ ana party will arrive in the Southern Cross tomorrow afternoon at about 5 o'clock' and an official welcome will be tendered at the aerodrome by the Mayor, Mr. T Fu ™HisloP (wh° is also president of the Wellington Aero Club) and Colonel A. Cowles, president of ■ the Wellingtoa Eeturaeds Soldiers'. Association Tomorrow evening Sir. Charles will lecture at the St. James Theatre in explanation of a film taken by lieutenant C. P. Ulm during the^ great transpacific flight made in the Southern Cross and showing the big aeroplane's behaviour in passing through a violent tropical thunderstorm. The programme will also feature '' The Air Mail,'' which was brought across from Australia in the Southern Cross.

Tomorrow evening Sir Charl.es and party will be the guests of the vi.us< tralian .Society' and the Wellington Aero Club at a ball at the- Mayfair Cabaret.

Passenger flying in the' Southern Cross will be commenced on Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock, and will be continued on Sunday .. morning and afternoon. " . -

The charity flight to Marlborough' Sounds and back will be made from Eongotai at 10.30 o'clock on Monday morning, and will be a fitting closing feature of a very remarkable weekend of flying in Wellington. Sir Charles will take, a holiday from flying on Monday afternoon, and will leave for Dannevirke on Tuesday 'morning. His next stages wiß ■be to' Hawera and then to New Plymouth, where tho extra tanks for the loii<» return flight across the Tasman Sea will be refitted. Ho will fly frpm New Plymouth, to the Ninety Mile Beach, and will set off on the flight over the Tasman immediately the weather conditions are favourable.