TASMAN CROSSED AGAIN

Evening Star, Issue 21719, 14 May 1934, Page 10

TASMAN CROSSED AGAIN

ULM'S EXCELLENT NIGHT FLIGHT STRONG RETARDING WINDS tPn Unitxd Pkiss Association.] NEW PLV MOUTH, May 12. Mr C. T. Dim, iu the Faith in Australia, left Richmond aerodrome at 11.10 o’clock (New. Zealand time) last night on the plane’s fifth Tasman .crossing, and landed safely at New Plymouth aerodrome at 2.36 o’clock- this afternoon. On landing-, attached to the tail of the machine was tangled about 300yds of wire picked up when the plane was taking off from Richmond. With Dim were his usual lasman flight companions—G. D. Allan (copilot and radio operator), and R. B. Boulton (engineer).- A last trip was not anticipated, due to delays by the prevailing southerly winds, but the plane made a fair time of 14h 26min. On arrival the fliers were met at the aerodrome by the officials ol the New Plymouth Airport Board and Aero Club. ■ The reception, however, was informal, and, during the short stay at New Plymouth opportunity was taken to check over the engines. Ulm will convey to Mr Forbes' greetings from ,Mr Lyons. li is anticipated that the r aith in Australia will be flown to Ninety Mile Beach on Monday for the return flight to Sydney, which will take place early next week. , . „ ... The machine stayed in New Plymouth only fifteen minutes, the engines not even being stopped, and the airmen were out of the cabin only long enough to take a cup of tea before continuing the flight to Wellington. All seemed fresh and bright after 14i hours in the air. The navigator stated subsequently that he was unable to see land* until he struck the Taranaki coastline not far away from the aerodrome. The plane quickly approached the .ground and made a perfect landing. Souvenir hunters made a dash for the wire on the plane,- but Ulm stated that ho himself desired the wire as a memento. .The visibility, stated Allen, was only fair, and particularly oyer the last 400 miles strong retarding southerly winds werq encountered. . Asked hgw the weather had been over the earlier .part 'of the flight, Allen/replied; “ 1 don’t know;. I wasn’t looking. The greater part of the way the plane was.flown at a height of between 7,000 and 8,000 feet.” ■ ■ The wire, caught in the, tail wheel made a heavy drag jh the wind. Allen said that this wire was the signalling line stretched across the ground at Richmond aerodrome; He had been informed of the mishap 1 by radio.; During the flight the Faith in Australia was in; radio communication with the Makura and the Wanganella. TJim was anxious to. reach Wellington before dusk. Rain was falling as the plane again took off and- set a direct course. Tor. her . ultimate, destination. Nothing except a: vague fdniour was .'heard'of the' Faith iii Aiisttialia at New Plymouth '■"prior 'to her being sighted. From 1 o’clock numbers gathered, at the aerodrome to welcome the fliers, and by 3; 30 about 300 people were waiting. ,

ON TO WELLWGTWi |Pm United Press Association.] ■ WELLINGTON. May 13. Mr Dim, in the Faith in Australia, arrived in Wellington from New Plymouth at 1.43 "p.m,yesterday, and spent to-day resting. His present plans 'ate’to : stay in Wellington until Tuesday. INC GOODWILL MESSAGE Ai" 7.30 p.m., Saturday, the' Gonf- ■ ihonvvealth Prime Minister (Mr'Lyotis) broadcast a, message of goodwill to the dominion, which was ‘rebroddeast by the New Zealand Government stations. 'Mr Lyons emphasised the friendly relations existing between Australia and New Zealand and stated that the occasion of his present address was the successful flight across the Tasman of .Flight-lieutenant Charles Dim,, who Was making such a habit of these, qrossy ings/tbat they were ceasing to. be.re- .. .garded as remarkable. ‘ “Yet it is still an outstanding, teat of aviation/' continued Mr noons, “ and I coiigraliiir.ee him on his splendid performance in effecting seven successful crossings of the Tasman, an achievement that speaks volumes for his skill both as a pilot-and an- rgauiser. He needs no commendation from mel We are proud of him as one of the pioneers of the air, and bis name will live in history as a result of his association with Kingsford Smith in one of the greatest flights the wnld has known—namely, that from America to Australia. He has rendered notable services to commercial aviation, and in . 1931 he took part in the first experimental air service from Australia to England. He was also managing director of a company which conducted an interstate air mail service in Australia, but owing to the depression no Government subsidy was available or that service would be operating to-day. It, again, was a pioneer effort of commercial aviation, and aviation in this country is the richer for the experience. Later he broke the record from England to Australia. The spectacular nature of his flights has been overshadowed by the care with which he , organises them, and everyone will agree , that attention to . detail is the secret of his success. His flights illustrate the value of aviation as a whole, and we know that his wonderful performances are highly appreciated by you as a sister dominion, because of the splendid reception which you always accord our flyers. ■ “ Mr TJlm’s flight across the Tasman to-day and this talk—the ' fact that .1 am able to speak to you over the air in. a common language about subjects of” common ! interest—seem to show the closing of the distance between our two countries. It may be rather too early to speculate about an air service,across the dividing stretch of water, biit who could deny the value of such a service or say that, in view of the rapid advance of aviation, the. day, will not come in the future when regular flights will be possible?” Conveying an expression'of the goodwill of the Commonwealth to New Zealand, Mr Lyons said that', the two countries were. more than near' neighbours. They were -brothers and sisters, proud of their common ancestry and proud of their associations, especially the unforgettable association of Anzac. “ We have lately taken steps to bring about a greater exchange of trade.” he added, “ and I hope those steps will be . continued. But while trade is important, we are bound together by the stronger ties of kinship, and 1 will conclude by expressing the hope that re will march forward side by side to our destiny as members of the British Commonwealth of Nations.”-

TAKE-OFF MISHAPS Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright SYDNEY, May ]3. in addition to striking and breaking tile high-tension wires during its takeoff at Richmond on Friday night the Faith in Australia narrowly missed the boundary Fence at the end of the aerodrome. Workmen were employed until early morning repairing the damage to electric wires which Fed the aerodrome with current.