TASMAN CONQUERED

Evening Star, Issue 21885, 23 November 1934, Page 10

TASMAN CONQUERED

WHITEHEAD AHD HICHOLL’S VENTURE A HAPPY ISSUE SAFE LANDING AT NINETY MILE BEACH A Press Association message from Auckland states that Whitehead and Nicholl landed at Ninety Milo Beach at 7.20 last night, and this morning flew to Auckland, landing at Mangere about 7.20., They are both well. NIGHT OH BEACH SHORT FLIGHTTO IHAHGERE [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, November 23. The G.P.O. at Wellington received advice by telephone from Mangere aerodrome at 7.50 this morning: “ Tho airmen have been on the ground for twenty-five minutes, and have been identified.” The Hobsonville aerodrome reported that the flyers landed at Mangere at 7;20 a.m. The Mangere aerodrome reported that the flyers first landed at Ninety Mile Beach and spent the night there. The lettering on the plane is VHUON.

' PLEASED, BUT HOT EXCITED AVIATORS WORN AFTER LONG FLIGHT BEACH SIGHTED AT DUSK. [Per United Press Association’.] AUCKLAND, November 23. First to greet the Tasman airmen oh their arrival at Mangero was Mr M. Buzio, a member of the Aero Club.He bad, after reading all the reports, come to the conclusion that the aeroplane landed somewhere last night, and that it would appear early, this morning, and that possibly it would arrive at Mangere. He had only, been at the aerodrome a few minutes when, about 7 o’clock, he heard the drone of a plane overhead, and was not greatly surprised to see it was the Faith in New Zealand. It landed on the outskirts of the aerodrome, and the engine was stopped. Mr Buzio rushed over and found Whitehead and Nicholl pleased, but not excited. They looked worn and were obviously very tired. They told him that they had allowed a wide margin for the southern drift, and at dusk last night sighted “ a good piece of sand.” They did not know where they were, except that it was somewhere in North Auckland, but decided that it was safer to land there than to look for an aerodrome. Haying landed, they thought of telephoning, but could find no habitation. They therefore stayed the night on the beach, and set off early this morning in order to allay any anxiety felt ior them as soon as possible. After being given a light meal the airmen were put to bed, hut will l>e awakened later in the morning. " THE CHEAPEST AMD BEST WAY " UNEVENTFUL FLIGHT IN GOOD WEATHER LICENSE CANCELLED BECAUSE OF EXTR A TANK. “ We had a violent desire to come to New Zealand, and decided flying was the cheapest and best wa;y,” said Whitehead and Nicholl when interviewed at Mangere Aerodrome after they had enjoyed a short sleep. They both 'ap-

peared well, though tired and stiff, and readily answered a long series of questions. Their flight was quite uneventful. The weather, on the whole, was good, though they passed through thunderstorms. They flew mostly between 500 ft and I,oooft above the sea.

They sighted a small ship about 350 miles off the coast, but could not identify it. Then, when about sixty miles off the coast, they sighted seagulls, and this assured them that they were somewhere near land. They sighted land thirteen hours after leaving Australia. (It seems likely that there is some confusion here between New Zealand and Australian times). Believing themselves, further south than they actually were, they turned north, but found themselves losing the land, and saw islands further to the north, so they turned, south again and flow down the east coast and landed on a small beach at 6.35 a.m.

After landing they saw a house some distance away, and attempted to reach it, but came to a stream which they could not cross, so they returned to the plane, lighted a fire, and spent the night there, but were unable to sleep. They had two and a-half hours to three hours’ petrol left, and this morning flew down to Mangere Aerodrome. Questioned about flying without a license, they said that they had been advised in Australia by . the Civil Aviation Department that their license had been cancelled. This was solely because of the extra petrol tank they had installed. Actually, they brought their license with them. Their plane had been purchased by Whitehead eight months ago, and it was over a cup of coffee at the Mascot Aerodrome that they suddenly decided to fly to New Zealand ■ together. They considered that, as the plane had flown about 1,000 hours without even a forced landing, they would be unlucky if it failed them on this flight. ' Actually, the engine never missed a beat. They had' an emergency petrol-pumping system, and also a makeshift oil pump, which functioned perfectly. They concluded it was useless carrying wireless, because, if they came down, they could not hope to be rescued. They would do the flight again, but would not like to be so cramped next time. Nicholl said that Whitehead was the pilot for six hours,: and then he took over. After another eight hours they changed again, and Whitehead piloted until the landing. They would,probably “do a bit of joy riding,”-and perhaps tour the dominion. They, intended to look for opportunities to establish- a commercial service.

Whitehead said that they thought the islands they sighted in the north were the Three Kings. When they landed they walked for what seemed miles along the beach before sighting a house, which they were unable to reach.

It is believed here that the landing place was on Houhora Beach, close to the Houhora River.

EARLY SEARCH Of BEACH [Per United Press Association.] WHANGAREI, November 23. The only information to hand tends to show that the airmen came down on Ninety-Mile . Beach, but this is pure surmise, for, as far ,as is known, they wore seen by no one. The ■ relieving postmaster at Kaitaia says; that it is believed in ‘ the district that the fliers landed at Hukatere, where a garage and camping ground are situated. Pilot‘Allen,,-the Auckland Aero Club instructor, who; with other Auckland pilots, gave a display in the far north - yesterday, flew along the coast from -Ahipara, at the lower ond of the beach, to the North Cape, at 6.30 this morning, and saw no sign of the airmen. Other reports received from Kaitaia state that the plane was seen crossing Herekino, which is south of the Ninety-Mile Beach, at daylight. “VERY FOOLHARDY * MELBOURNE, November 23. (Received November'23, at 11 a.m.) Aviation officials described , Whitehead and Nicholl’s flight as “ very foolhardy.” The Controller of Civil Aviation (Captain E. Johnston) said his department had no power to seize the machine or stop the flight. EARLIER MESSAGES PREPARATIONS FOR LANDING [Per United Press Association.] NEW PLYMOUTH. November 22. At dusk, sixteen hours after the start of the Tasman fl ight by Raymond Whitehead and Rex Nicholls, there was no sign of the aviators at New Plymouth, though the possibility of the plane being off its course was recog-, nised. No . arrangement had been made by the airmen for landing, but the Aero Club and the Airport Board have taken all reasonable precautions for lighting, and the aviators should have no difficulty in making a night landing. Squadron-leader, M'Gregor, Mr H. C. Walker, Squadron-leader Hewett, Flight-lieutenant Kay, and Mr Stewart, centenary air race competitors, and a club plane have been scouting during the afternoon. They realise the difficulty and the danger of the flight in such circumstances. WAITING ANXIOUSLY [Per United Press Association.] NEW PLYMOUTH, November 22. A small crowd is waiting on the floodlighted aerodrome, but at 9.30 there was still no sign of the flyers, who are over seventeen and a-half hours out from Sydney. Provided the airmen carried petrol for twenty hours’ flying, as was intended, they still have two and three-quarter hours’ supply left. The night is fine, with banks of clouds over the sea. HOPE FADING [Pra United Phess Association.] NEW PLYMOUTH, November 22. The hope of the arrival of the Tasman flyers is : diminishing. At 11 o’clock a number of people were still waiting at the flood-lighted aerodrome. A RASH VENTURE SYDNEY, November 22. Nicholls’s relatives here had no word of the flyers late to-night, but are hoping for the best. Leading aviators at Mascot aerodrome declare that . the flight was most. ill-advised in the particular machine.

WARNINGS DISREGARDED . SYDNEY, November. 22. The acting superintendent of civil aviation at Mascot aerodrome (Captain T. Johnson) said to-day that he was unaware of Whitehead and'Nichblls’s take-off from Mascot yesterday. Ho added that they were told not to fly the machine with-the existing installation, which was considered unsatisfactory. The Civil Aviation Department may take action if they return’ to Australia. The flyers’ only provisions wero caffein tablets to keep them awake, a thermos flask of coffee, a ■ packet ■of sandwiches, and a supply. of chewing gum. Their. plane is the oldest Puss Moth in - Australia. It also has the original engine.

SHIPS IN THE TASMAN [Pee United Press Association.] . WELLINGTON, November 22. Shipping in the Tasman Sea, at the present time consists of the-Wangan-ella, which left Wellington about j 5 p.m. to-day, the Marama, which left Auckland' to-day; both _ Australia bound, the Maunganui, which sailed from Sydney to-day for Wellington, and the Strathaird on her way'from Brisbane to Auckland. HOPES RAISED AND DASHED [Pee United Press Association.] WELLINGTON,, November, 22. In the belief that the airmen did not intend to land at New Plymouth, but to use Mount Egmont as a landmark and then come on to Wellington, thus completing the first Sydney-Wellington direct non-stop flight, a large number of people gathered at the' Rongotai aerodrome this evening, among them Mr Whitehead’s parents, Mr and Mrs A.„P,. Whitehead, and his sister, Joyce Whitehead. There was much excitement when a report that a monoplane; presumably from Australia, had been sighted at Onehunga at 5.20. It was assumed that the report was accurate, and on this basis it was estimated that with a following wind the ; Faith, in. New Zealand would arrive at Rongotai at about 8 p.m. Some time afterwards; however, it was stated that the aeroplane seen was a local machine. The weather conditions at Rongotai were then ideal, with bright sunshine and few clouds, and a steady northerly wind prevailed. As time wore on and darkness set in the wind strengthened . slightly, but the sky remained- clear; with a good moon. Arrangements for a night landing wero then taken in hand and a flare path was prepared. Everything was ready for the airmen’s arrival. No fur-' ther news came, but the aerodrome telephone was kept engaged by a seemingly unending stream of inquiries. The majority of those present renlained in the clubhouse, and at 9.15 o’clock one of the watchers reported the noise of , an engine. This caused' a general exodus to the flying field, but no machine was silhouetted against the starlit sky and the waiting watchers returned to the cluhroom. Apparently the noise was that of a motor cycle engine., : : Nothing further was heard and the gathering began to thin out. The northerly later-became gusty and increased in strength ■ and the clouds thickened. The pilots present calculated that with the petrol supply of the flyers being Ll 7 gallons it would hold out until shortly before midnight, assuming that the petrol consumption was six gallons an hour, which is the normal rate. Postal officials throughout the Mominion were held at their posts until this evening, and were then released: on the understanding that if,the plane were seen they were to report to Wei- ; lington. , EXPERTS PESSIMISTIC

[Per United Press Association.] NEW PLYMOUTH, November 22. Have Whitehead and Nicholls suffered the fate of Hood and Moncrieff ? That is the fear of those who waited patiently, at the New Plymouth aerodrome for news of the two men who to-day attempted to fly the Tasman. Up to midnight no news had been received of the ainnep, who left Gerringong ' Beach, Sydney,'. about 4 a.m., New Zealand time, for New Plymouth. , They were to carry sufficient petrol to lash twenty hours, which expired at midnight. The machine carried no radio, and its movements since it left Sydney have been shrouded in silence. The ' possibility, that the airmen have landed on a remote part of the coast remains. It is extremely unlikely that a landing haa been made in any part of Taranaki* the whole coast of which is fairly, densely settled. Furthermore, the lights of numerous small towns would serve as a good guide to the New Plymouth airport. ,• The fact that the Moth plane was a reconditioned single-engined machine four years old is remembered with misgiving. Expert airmen are not hopeful of a successful crossing having been made. The airport officials and a fairsized crowd waited at the aerodrome with floodlights and flares ready for a possible night landing, but their hope of welcoming another pair of conquerors of the Tasman gradually diminished. No arrangements had been made by the airmen for their landing, but'nothing was left undone that' could have assisted them had they arrived. The day was perfectly fine, with a, cloudhank visible over the horizon and a few, clouds floating inland to-night. Until darkness fell the visiting air race competitors and club aeroplanes scouted the coastline in the hope of picking up th# flyers.

" FAITH HI HEW ZEALAND " MAKS-SHiFT IHGEHtiITY HOSE PIPE FOR OIL FEED. [BracsAT, to tbs Stab.*] AUCKLAND, November 29. When Messrs Nicholl' and White|hea<J first announced, on November 14, that they intended to hop off that evening for New Zealand in the tiny machine that they had rebuilt themselves they caused a sensation in Sydney aviation circles. Unfavourable weather, however, caused a postponement of the flight, and nothing further was heard of the venture until yesterday. A week ago yesterday the airmen were ready for the start. For soma days they had been working feverishly on their small, single-engined Puss Moth, but only a. few friends were aware of the fact that they had New

Zealand as their goal. The installation of the extra petrol tanks was not completed until the morning of the day on which the start was originally to have been made, and one of the last jobs done by the adventurers was the painting of the name “ Faith in New Zealand ” on the sides of the machine. The plane being used by the flyers is said to be the first Puss Moth to be brought to Australia, and is at least four years old. it was purchased some time ago for Mr Whitehead by his father, a business man in Wellington, but is now owned jointly by the two young men, who in recent weeks have practically rebuilt the machine. In the work of getting the plane ready for its Tasman flight the owners were aided at night by a few friends. A report from Sydney states that no machine ever used in attempting such a flight shows such make-shift ingenuity in its equipment. The oil pipe in the machine, for. instance, is simply a piece of hose pipe fed with a tin funnel when oil is required, and stoppered with a plug of wood at other times. With so much space in the plane occupied by the extra petrol tanks, the accommodation for the occupants is amazingly small. The flyers sit on rubber cushions wedged together on the top of a board seat only 18m wide, with their backs against the petrol tank. The mode of changing seats .in the confined space presented a difficulty until itho youfig men evolved a method which calls for considerable contortions. When a bhange-over in the control; of the machine is to be made, one of the men slips down from the seat and doubles up his legs, while ms companion crawls over the top of him to take the controls. In order to gain a few more inches of room the men planned to make the flight with their boots off. . . Each of the flyers carries a mascot. Mr Whitehead, who was born in New Zealand, has a St. Christopher s medal with the patron saint of travel in bronze relief, which was given to him by a- priest when he crashed into monastery garden at Goulburn early this year. As his good luck token Mr Nicholl treasures most a half-sovereign given to him by a friend. As a joint charm the airmen have a black cat badge attached to their thermos flask by a length of ribbon.