BY SMALL MARGIN

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 21 December 1927, Page 5

BY SMALL MARGIN

ENDURANCE FLIGHT FAILS. PETROL SUPPLIES EXHAUSTED. MACHINE GOING WELL. Hi’ GABLE -CRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. Received 9.40 a.m to-dav. SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 20. Captain Ivingsiord Smith landed at 9.47 o’clock -unis morning with the petrol exhausted, the endurance flight failing bv approximately three hours to break the record, A message received a t eight o’clock in the morning declared that the ’plane would probably be able to remain an hour and a half longer, which would make the total time more than two hours below the record. The message stated that the plane was functioning perfectly, but the petrol supply was low. The airmen landed at Mills’ field, having kept the plane aloft until practically the last drop oi' petrol was drained from the tanks. The unofficial time for the flight was 49 hours 29 minutes, which is 2 hours 53 minutes below the German record. SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 19. Captain Kingsford Smith and Lieut. Pond, as they approached the fortieth hour of sustained flight, were forced to a higher altitude on account of air currents, which required greater gas consumption. It is feared they will be unable to remain aloft more than six houis longer through lack of gas. Smith sent a message that all was well at 12.46 a.m., 12 hours before the record can he broken. His speed had decreased from GO miles an hour to 45.

STRAIN OF THE LONG FLIGHT

Received .10.30 a.m. to-day. SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 20.

Both pilots wore almost lifted from the cockpit of the plane a's it came to a stop. They seemed to bo on the verge of a collapse from the strain of the long cruise. Their lips were cracked and their faces drawn. As they left the plane bloodshot eyes told of sleepless hours at night. Captain Smith said: “Sorry we could not make the rest of it, but we will do it next ti mo. ’ ’