PACIFIC FLIGHTS

Evening Star, Issue 22602, 20 March 1937, Page 16

PACIFIC FLIGHTS

AMERICAN CLIPPER AT HONOLULU REPORT OF ENGINE MISHAP Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright SAN FRANCISCO, March 19. A North American Newspaper Alliance copyright message from Captain !Mnsick, pilot on the Pan-American Airways Clipper on her survey flight from San Francisco to Auckland, states: “ Traversing a wide-swinging area, we crossed the eastern quadrant of the Pacific to reach Honolulu, Our flight was in sharp contrast to the routine crossings ahead of us. The Hawaii Clipper stayed at a warm altitude and in a restricted track, but we explored a wide area, and plotted wind shifts and recorded wide variations of temperature at various altitudes. We swung back and forth on three different courses, and finally, as a safety test, flew the last third of the way with three engines. We then made a landing at Pearl Harbour with two engines instead of the usual four, and arrived at 1.25 in the afternoon, Pacific time.” The Associated Press, however, stated that one of the Clipper’s engines failed, and repairs would cause the Clipper Jo remain at Honolulu for three days, WIDESPREAD INTEREST IN FLIGHT [Pee United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, March 19. Interest in the trial flight of the Clipper ship from San Francisco to Auckland was displayed by American passengers by the Mariposa, which arrived this morning. Mrs G. 0. Knight (Honolulu) said that in November last she made a voyage from San Francisco to Honolulu in the regular Clipper service airship. This was the airship’s second trip, and a full complement was booked from then until February this year. The machine left at 3.40 in the afternoon and arrived at Honolulu at 6.50 in the morning. She was thrilled by the experience and comfort of ocean air travel, Mr Knight, who is export manager of Hawaiian Cane Products Ltd., said that the fare by the Clippers from San Francisco to Honolulu was 340 dollars'; compared with 190 dollars by steamer, hut the time saved made the extra money well worth while. The future of the service was assured, and later planes capable of carrying about 40 passengers would be in service. The postal rate was originally 25 cents per naif-ounce, but this had been reduced to 20 cents. The expeditious mail service was a great boon to business.

PREPARATIONS FOR LANDING AUCKLAND, March 19. A prompt start was made to-day with the clearing of an area of land between the waterfront road and the foreshore, near where the Pan-American Clipper will be moored. A gang of Auckland City Council workmen was engaged throughout the day, and cleared one area 210 ft wide by 500 ft long. Three similar areas _ will be cleared by the time the Clipper is due, and accommodation will thus_ be provided for motor cars parked in rows under the supervision of traffic officers. It is also expected that many hundreds of motorists will prefer to watch the landing from roads in the vicinity of Orakei. NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS AUCKLAND, March 19. The importance of keeping the flying boat runways on the Auckland Harbour completely clear of small craft when the Pan-American survey Clipper was about to land next week, and at the same time of exercising some measure of control over civilian pilots who might be flying in the vicinity in private or Aero - Club machines, was emphasised by Mr Harold Gatty, representative of the company in New Zealand. It was usual for the Clipper when about to land to fly round in a wide circle before touchmg the water, he said, but particularly on a survey flight. The pilot was the only judge of the best approach, and it was impossible to forecast which way he would bring in the Clipper. “ Launches on the harbour might make things very difficult for us,” Mr Gatty said. “It is very hard to see from the water, and it_ might appear that the man in the air had all the room he wanted, when actually the reverse was the case. It is difficult to see from a small launch just how much interference the launch is causing. A pilot about to land wants a good clear run, and launches indiscriminately chugging round the harbour might prove a nuisance. “ I am going to discuss with officers of the Auckland Harbour Board the question of the provision of some patrol to keep pleasure craft out of the way,” Mr Gatty added. “ The pilot does not need the whole harbour to land in, of course, but even after he has landed boats are likely to interfere when the Clipper is being taxied to its moorings. The Clippers land at about 75 miles an hour, and the taxiing speed varies according to the visibility. It can be anywhere from a few knots to the take-off speed of about 80 miles an hour, but is usually from 20 to 30. “ I hope that no plans are made for an aerial escort for the Clipper,” Mr Gatty continued. “It is difficult to escort a big, fast machine with craft that are much slower and may become quite a hazard. Welcoming aeroplanes flying over the city would not interfere with the clipper in any Way. Captain Musick does not want the air to himself by any means, but he does require ample room to bring his ship safely down at a strange landing-place.”