ACROSS THE PACIFIC.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 3 November 1925, Page 3

ACROSS THE PACIFIC.

PROPOSED FLIGHT. AUSTRALIA TO NEW ZEALAND. The Pacific Ocean in the northern hemisphere has been crossed- by airmen. In the south it still remains unconquerecl. That part of it which is honoured by the name of the Tasman Sea has long excited the ambitions of many flying men in Australia, and New Zealand too, and plans once progressed as far as two young New Zealanders going to Australia to try to make arrangements for a flight. That project fell into abeyance, and now public interest has been aroused by the proposal and preliminary uegotia. tions of Captain Kingsford Smith, , a well-known Australian aviator, to cross the Tasman by air. He and his friends are somewhat disappointed i that his first approaches to the Dominion authorities should have been somewhat cold-shouldered, because of the fact time they coincided with the elections here; but the instigators of the flight are not downhearted, and are determined to pursue their intentions. According to officials of the Civil Aviation Department in Melbourne, Captain Kingsford Smith should be able to cross from Australia to New Zealand in daylight. With the type of flying-boat which they believe Captain Kingsford Smith contemplates using, a non-stop- flight of over 1000 miles should be possible. So far the Department has received no' official communication from Captain Kingsford Smith, but it is known that fairly comprehensive plans have been formulated, and that only official support in both countries is needed for Captain Kingsford Smith to announce the complete proposals. Interest in the hazardous venture has been deepened by the fact that Captain Kingsford Smith has been in personal communication with Colonel C. H. Brinsmead, Director of Civil Aviation, and a member of the Air Board.

As soon as the suggested flight is brought officially under the notice of the Department of Civil Aviation, an officer will be detailed to inspect the flying machine proposed to he used •oil the trip. The Department has power to prevent a flight if the flying vessel and its engine do not comply with the regulations. For instance, the use of a land machine over long stretches of wftter would come under the ban. The regulations also prescribe that the personnel, of the aeroplane must be medically tit and the pilot qualified. In the case of Captain Kingsford Smith, however, the Department does not anticipate any difficulty in his complying with the regulations in every respect. The pilot who earned distinction in the Great War, afterwards spent several years in the services of the company which conducts the aerial mail between Perth and Derby (Western .Australia).