TASMAN FLIGHT

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 October 1928, Page 7

TASMAN FLIGHT

FURTHER POSTPONEMENT i — BAD WEATHER CONTINUES

(Preas Aaßooiation.)

BLENHEIM, October 11.

■ The necessity for a perfect runway for the Southern Cross was emphasised by some figures given to an “Express” representative this morning, by Squadron Leader Kingsford Smith. These show that when he takes off in the morning the Southern Cross will be called on to lift a total weight of 12,8461b5. This is not her record, for the Southern Cross lifted 15,8001bs when she attempted to lower the endurance record at' the San Francisco fly this year, but it is a very big lift for a machine of her wing surface. The Southern Cross herself weights 6001b5., and her 750 gallons of petrol weight 5,7001b5., her 25 gallons of lubricating oil weigh 2161b5., crew 640 lbs., rations 401b5., smoke bombs etc., 1501b5., and mail matter lOOlbs., more or less, giving a total weight -of 12,8461b5. This morning, after a careful survey of the weather conditions, Dr. Kidson advised the flyers to fly from Blenheim direct to a point in the Tasman 36 degrees south, 165 degrees east, which is a spot in mid-Tasman, approximately in the same latitude as Auckland. From this point the flyers ■will steer direct for Sydney. Unfortunately they will meet no ships en route; According to Dr. Kidson they should encounter fresh south-wester-lies for the first 300 miles, averaging 20 miles per hour. He recommends that if they are found to b,e stronger, the Southern Cross should put back. At. 11 o’clock to-night, the weather report from Dr. Kidson and from the Australian coast indicated that, it would be inadvisable lor the Southern Cross to leave. In view of this, Kingsford Smith and Ulm decided at 11 p.m. to postpone the flight. The reports indicate that it will probably be 48 hours before another opportunity presents itself. There are reports of thunderstorms over Sydney, and the Australian report stated that, if the trip were undertaken, it would be unwise to trail the long aerial over the latter part of the journey on account of the risk of lightning. RUSH JOURNEY TO WELLINGTON BLENHEIM, October 11. Kingsford Smith this afternoon flew to Wellington and back in one hour find 40 minutes in a Bristol fighter. He returned with Major T. M. Wilkes, Director of Aviation for New Zealand. Captain Findlay, in the “D.H.50 plane, arrived here from Sockburn with Messrs L. Schofield and Burns of Christchurch as passengers. WELLINGTON, October 11. Captain Kingsford Smith landed at Trentham this afternoon at 3.30 from Blenheim, and, without stopping the engines, picked up Major T. M. Wilkes, of the Air Force, and returned to Blenheim. Captain Smith took to Trentham with him a territorial proceeding there for the military camp. Captain Smith’s stay was only four minutes.

ZEPPELIN’S JOURNEY

STORMS IN ATLANTIC

(Australian Press Assn. —United Service.;

(Recd. October 12, 8 a.m.) FRIEDRICHSHAFER, Oct. 11.

The Zeppelin circled over the hangar, and dropped flowers, the band playing Deutschland über Alles. Then the Zeppelin sped at fifty miles hourly, and passed Bale at 9.30. Ackener plans to reach New York on Sunday morning. He is already advised of heavy storms in the Atlantic, and if necessary will head for the African coast, then via the Azores to dodge the storms. The passengers are insured at a premium of six and a-half per cent., the airship itself at nine per cent. The passengers include the British journalist, Lady Drummond Hay. AMERICANS ON BOARD. (Recd. October 12, 11.10 a.m.) LONDON, October 11. A message from Friedrichshafer says that three Americans paid £6OO each to travel on the zeppelin, on which are twenty passengers, who will live sumptuously. A Munich brewery presented two thousand bottles of beer, and another admirer gave two hundred bottles of champagne.

DISTINGUISHED PASSENGERS

LONDON, October 11.

The Zeppelin left Frieclrichshafer at 7.52 in the morning for America. Sixty persons are aboard whereof twenty are passengers including Senor Eira, representing the Spanish Government, Commander Rosendahl who commanded the American Los Angeles, Herr Grzesinski, Prussian Minister of the Interior, and three experts of the Ministry transport. The weather was calm and the route is being fixed in accordance with wireless weather reports received en route. The first report will be made from Bale (Switzerland ).

The “Times’s” Berlin correspondent (Says: It is estimated that,the Zeppelin flight to America will occupy 60 to 70 hours. Count Brandestein, the late Count Zeppelin’s son-in-law is also a passenger. Six Press representatives and two cinema operators are included in the complement.

EMBARKATION SCENES.

(Recd. Oct. 12, 1.40 p.m.) BERLIN, October 11

Eckener was awake all night, studying charts. - At four o’clock in the morning he decided to take the risk, and at five o’clock the passengers were knocked up from their bedrooms, and soon the lobbies of the hotels were alive with bustling people. At 7.30 a.in. all. were aVoar'd, except only a woman, Lady Drummond-Hay, who dashed up at the last moment and discovered that she had forgotten her fur coat. A messenger was hurriedly despatched in a motor car to obtain it.

Meantime, an excited Russian financier from Paris appeared at the hangar, flourishing a bundle of thou-sand-dollar notes and shouting out, “Ten thousand dollars if you take me.” Eckener gave an indulgent smile and shook his head. Only a

moment previously he had ordered out a. personal friend of Dr Badt, Secretary of the Prussian Ministry for the Interior, as every pound weight counted in view of the possibility of storms. The only drawback to comfort .was the strict prohibition of smoking. When notified of the embargo, one American was so upset that he tried to sell his ticket, but was dissuaded. The crew and passengers’ luggage weighs four tons.