THE TASMAN CROSSED

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 November 1934, Page 7

THE TASMAN CROSSED

HEWETT—KAY FLIGHT LANDING AT PALMERSTON N. [per press association.] PALMERSTON NORTH, Nov. 14. Completing, the first London to New Zealand air flight, Squadron Leader J. D. Hewett and Flying Officer C. E. Kay (Auckland) competitors in the Centenary Air Race, reached Milson Aerodrome at 8.4 this evening. In making a landing in the dark, they had the misfortune slightly to damage tho D. H. Dragon Rapide machine by coming to rest against a wire fence. It was an annoying finish to an otherwise magnificent flight. The damage consists of a bent tip to the front propeller and a burst tyre on the wheel skid, both of which will be easily repaired. Apart from being dog-tired from'' the mental strain of the long flight over the water, the airman were well. Shortly after landing, they were quartered at an hotel enjoying a second hearty meal of the day, the first having been partaken in Australia, an early breakfast.

With 260 gallons of petrol, enough for 14 hours flying, and favourable weather report, the aviators left Richmond Aerodrome, Sydney at 5.45 a.m. (Australian time). The machine took off easily and in fact, Hewett said he could have lifted twice the load. It was anticipated that the weather was to be rough for the first hour, and this proved to be the case. The weather was fair at Sydney, but it was not long before the plane ran into heavy stuff, and bucked about considerably. Rain showers added to the discomfort of the situation. The engines were functioning perfectly and to increase the range of visibility, Hewett, who was at the controls tall the way, took the Dragon down low over the water and he flew just above the waves for three hours and all the time the weather was rough, but if the meteorologist’s report was to be relied upon —‘and it was — it could not be very long they thought before they would strike clearer weather.

Within four hours, the conditions improved as predicted, and the pilots decided to climb 5000 feet. The day was much finer up there and they flew above the clouds for another two hours. Unfortunately, above the clouds they were not able to estimate the amount of drift. They drifted south, but how far they could not judge. From that on the weather continued fine. NEAR WESTPORT

Shortly before 5 p.m. they got their first sight of land, and discovered a little later that it was the high country behind Westport. At 5.30., they were over a lighthouse near Westport and they turned north and followed the coast line till near Farewell Spit, where they changed direction and flew across Golden Bay to Blenheim, having considered the advisability of landing there. Hewett landed here “and it wasn’t a bad idea either.” Over Blenheim they decided to push north, possibly to Auckland, and made contact with the North Island at Paekakariki. It was getting dark by now and they decided to land at Milson. They sighted Palmerston North, and flew over the city easily picking up the aerodrome where the officers of Manawatu Aero Club made preparations for a night landing by setting out regulation flares. The machine, lit up with navigation lights, circled the ’drome three times before Hewett glided down for a closer look. He then went up again and swung into position for landing, which he made but overshot. The result was that he did not have sufficient room in which to pull up, and the machine breasted the fence at the eastern end of the drome causing the damage already enumerated. , , The flight of nine and three quarter hours from coast to coast was a record, and throughout the machine behaved perfectly, the engines nevei giving the slightest anxiety. Although Palmerston North had hoped that the aviators would land at Milson during the afternoon or early in the evening, when word, was Received that they had been sighted at Westport, it was considered that Hewett would make for one of the nearer ’dromes. It was thus at very short notice that the ’drome at Milson was prepared for a night-landing. On receipt of a telephone message from Squadron Leader T. M. Wilkes, Director of Air Services Wellington, flares were hurriedly set out but Hewett said they were not the best foi night landing, the flood lights being Pl Mr. I£ Cobbe (Minister of Defence) who was among those which welcomec the aviators, stated it was a . RedLetter day in the history of aviation h! New Zealand. The fact they were fifth in the Centenary Race’ be^ k ® skill and courage deserving the highest commendation, and McGregor c<ould occupy in New Zealand aviation a position similar to that of Kingsfor Smith in Australia'.

OVER WESTPORT. WESTPORT, November 14. When it was realised that the plane overhead this evening was that 01 Hewett and Kay, from Australia, disappointment was expressed that it aid not land at the local racecourse or the beach, so as to establish a record for the Tasman flight. The plane circled twice over the town at 6 p.m., before steering for the north. Then it turned to the east, apparently to follow the Buller River in the direction of Nelson or Blenheim. The machine flew low over'the middle of the town and its distinguishing marks wore thus picked up by those who had followed the aviators’ progress both in the Centenary Air Race and in their Tasman flight. The roar of the “Tainui’s” engine was quite distinct from that of any of the low-powered planes that have hitherto visited these parts. The plane was going so well that she might have been just setting out on her journey of 1200 miles, instead of nearing its close.

It is noteworthy that Guy Menzies, the only solo flyer of the Tasman Sea, and C. P. Ulm, the associate of Sir C. Kingsford Smith in some of his notable flights, were swung in this direction, which may point to a notable future for Westport in aviation. BLENHEIM DISAPPOINTED. BLENHEIM, November 14. I The receipt of advice from the plane “Tainui” that it was intended

to land at Blenheim for the night, was the signal for an immediate exodus from Blenheim and the surrounding districts to the aerodrome to welcome the fliers, who were assured of a most cordial reception. ( At seven o’clock the Benopai Station, 25 miles south-west of Blenheim reported that the plane passed over there, and four minutes later the plane crossed the aerodrome at a great height, it being obviously headed for Palmerston or Wellington. Thereupon, Marlborough swallowed its disappointment, and returned home to await latex’ news of the arrival at Palmerston North, where the airmen will be formally welcomed on behalf of the Marlborough Aero Club by the “Z.K.A.A.” one of the local machines, which proceeded there fox’ the purpose this morning. AT AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, November 14. About 200 spectators assembled at the Mangere Aerodrome, hoping to see the airmen landi after their flight across the Tasman Sea, and all went home very disappointed. Stunt flying amused the crowd during the afternoon.

News was' received at six o’clock that the airmen had gone off the course. Flares were prepared in case of a night landing. Later, however, it was announced that the fliers had landed at Palmerston North. The crowd then dispersed, some demanding their money back. The relatives of the airmen, assembled at Mangere aerodrome to welcome the party, and, although disappointed at the fact that the fliers did not reach Auckland, they were overjoyed that the crossing had been accomplished safely. Among the relatives present were Mrs J. D. Hewett, Mrs M. Hewett (Squadron Leader Hewett’s mother), and the airman’s son and daughters; Mrs C. F. Kay, Mr and Mrs D. Kay (the parents of Flying Officer Kay), and Mrs F. Stewart. On arrival at Mangere, the ladies of the party were presented with bouquets.

THE TOUR STARTED. PALMERSTON N„ November 15. Hewett, Kay, McGregor and Walker left for Hastings, to-day, commencing their tour of New Zealand. ANOTHER VENTURE. BY TWO NEW ZEALANDERS.

SYDNEY, November 14.

Two New Zealanders, Raymond Whitehead, aged 24 years, and Rex Nicholls, aged 26, intend taking off from Mascot Aerodrome.this evening for Gerringong Beach, where they will load 117 gallons of petrol preparatory to making -a flight to New Zealand. This supply of fuel will give them a flying range of twenty hours, and the aviators intend to leave for New Zealand immediately the petrol is loaded. Whitehead and Nicholls intend flying throughout to-night, and they hope to arrive at New Plymouth at 6 a.m. New Zealand time to-mor-row. '

They are ’flying tin a Puss Moth plane, named the “Faith in New Zealand,” and it is understood that this machine is the first Puss Moth to have been brought to Australia. The plane was obtained by Whitehead’s father, who is a business man belonging to Wellington. The preparations for the flight, such as the installing of tanks for the extra fuel supply, and the painting of the name on the plane, were carried out at Mascot at night time by friends of. the aviators, all being done virtually in secrecy. There is no intention to leave without proper authority, however, and. Commonwealth officials to-day subjected the machine to the customary tests, which were successfully passed. Whitehead informed the New Zealand Press Association that he had every confidence of accomplishing a successful flight. The plane had been overhauled by a good mechanic. Bad weather is predicted for the first two hundred miles of their hop to New Zealand. Raymond Whitehead was born in New Zealand. He went to England in 1930. He there trained with the Royal Air Force. He has done extensive flying since he arrived in Australia. He holds a “B” Pilot’s license. He has done four hundred flying hours. Nicholls is a resident of Manly. They will take turns in the piloting of their single-engined machine.. The petrol tanks occupy most of the space in the plane. In order to give themselves more leg room, the aviators are flying without boots. They carry no radio. “We would rather fly at night,” said Nicholls. “You can’t get any landmarks off the sea or the sky in the daytime. We will have the benefit of the stars at night.” Their Puss Moth plane is at least four years old. It has been rebuilt by the fliers themselves. * LATER.

Whitehead and Nicholls left Mascot Aerodrome for Gerringong Beach at 5.35 this afternoon. They should arrive on the beach at 6.15 p.m.

A START DELAYED. (Recd. November 15, 8 a.m.) SYDNEY, November 14. Whitehead and Nicholls’ flight is delayed by bad weather. They were unable to land at Gerrigong owing to fog and mist, which entirely obscured the beach. The weather here is extremely unsettled. However, the aviators hope to leave to-morrow night assuming the conditions are satisfactory here and over the Tasman. LATER. Whitehead and Nicholl will delay their departure for New Zealand for at least two days. The State Meteorologist informed .them that bad weather was expected over the Tasman for the next two days, AT NEW PLYMOUTH. NEW PLYMOUTH, November 14. No information regarding the intention of the young airmen, Whitehead and Nicholls, to land at New Plymouth, has been received here, other than tonight’s cablegram from Sydney, and no special arrangements had been made for their landing, until the air port officials set to work to-night.

WHITEHEAD’S CAREER. WELLINGTON, November 14. The first intimation that Whitehead’s father had that his son even contemplated the flight across the Tasman Sea was a telephone ring from the newspaper “Dominion” tonight, stating that he was about to leave. Mr Whitehead’s only comment was a startled “Oh!”

Whitehead is the only son of Mr A. P. Whitehead, who is the principal of Whitehead and Pears, a large Wellington drapery house. He was edu-

cated at Wellingotn College and at Victoria University College. He was a member of the literary staff of the “Dominion’’ from 1927 to 1930. Then he joined the R.A.F. on a short service commission. This he relinquished last year, and, on returning to New Zealand, he took out a commercial license. He then left fox’ Australia, where he has been operating an airtaxi service. He was taught to fly by the airman, Flight Officer Kay, who to-day crossed the Tasman Sea with Hewett, and his most intimate friend in the Air Force was Guy Menzies, who flew the Tasman Sea alone in 1931, landing at Harihari. CRASH IN QUEENSLAND. FOUR LIVES LOST. (Recd. November 15, 2.30 p.m.) BRISBANE, November 15. Four were killed when a fourengined De Haviland biplane crashed 29 miles south of Longreach at 7.30 a.m. to-day. This is one of the machines for the Singapore-Brisbane service. The crew consisted of Captain R- A. Prendergast, of the Imperial Airways; W. V. Creastes, co-pilot and wireless operator; F. R. Charlton, engineer; and also the Shell Oil Company representative named Broadfoot, who was travelling as a passenger. All were killed.

JONES AND WALLER.

LONDON, November 14. Probably it will be a month before Jones and Waller attempt the Cape Town flight. Meanwhile they are tuning up the Comet, aftei’ the Australian flight'. SCOTT AND BLACK. SYDNEY, November 14. Scott and Black left Sydney to-day by train for Adelaide, where they will board the Orford for London. Their machine is now open for inspection in Sydney. It is being shipped to England at a later date.

KINGSFORD SMITH. OAKLAND, November 13. A flight by him from New York to Australia, via London, was hinted as a possibility by Sir C. Kingsford Smith to-day, before he took off in the Lady Southern Cross for Los Angeles. He said he hoped to sell the plane, and if his present negotiations were carried through, he would soon be making another* long flight. His London-Australia flight was fairly definite, he indicated; but whether’ he would also make an Atlantic hop depended upon his backers. NATIONAL SUBSIDIES. RUGBY, November 13. Questioned in Parliament, the Under Secretary for air, Sir Philip Sassoon, said the approximate total amounts of subsidies as given in various estimates for expenditure on operation of regular air services in five years to 1933, were: Britain £1,921,134, France £7,590,529, Germany £4,482,105, and United States £19,008,808, the conversions of currency being reckoned at pax* rates of exchange.

BRITISH MAIL TRAFFIC. RUGBY, November 14. Important developments in air mail traffic were revealed at an interview with the Postmaster-General. They include, firstly, reduction in charges and introduction of flat rate for Imperial mail 'traffic; secondly, despatch of all fully paid letters and postcards to internal addresses by any internal air mail which can operate regularly and punctually, and whose owners will enter an agreement with the Post Office to carry mails at a reasonable cost, thereby delivery will be materially accelerated. In regard to Imperial air mail traffic, Sir Kingsley Wood said this was the first instalment of the plans, which were under consideration, and involved a marked step forward and real advance in Empire co-operation. As from November 17, all varying postage charges to Empire destinations reached by existing services of the Imperial Airways, would accordingly be abolished, and flat rates substituted. The new charges would be sixpence.per half ounce for letters to all destinations, where the present charge was equal to or in excess of that amount, and threepence per half ounce where it was at present lower than sixpence. This means that to India, Malaya, Kenya, Uganda, Tanganyika, Nyassaland, Zanzibar, Northern and Southern Rhodesia and South Africa, the charge will be sixpence, and to Sudan, Palestine, trans-Jordan threepence. The latter rate will also apply exceptionally to Egypt, Syria, Iraq and Persia. Regarding the internal air mail it will in future be a responsibility of the Post Office to decide when letters benefit by air transmission. The new internal service commences on December 1. , Sir Kingsley Wood expressed the hope that the final development policy would chiefly result in the establishment of a network of internal air services operating all the year round 'to the benefit not only of the posting public, but British civil aviation.