ENDURANCE FLIGHT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 21 December 1927, Page 9

ENDURANCE FLIGHT.

SMITH WILL TRY AGAIN. REASONS FOR FAILURE. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. Received 12.45 p.m. to-ctav. NEW YORK, Dec. 20. Captain Smith and Lieutenant Rond announced that they would make another attempt after the petrol carrying capacity of the plane had been increased. They started the last iiiglit with over 14u0 gallons, and declared that this was partly responsible for the failure. The airmen were unable to bear a barrage of questions shot at them on landing by scores of friends and journalists, having been temporarily deaiened by the roar of the giant, motors and the sweep of the wind. They were so tired that they leaned on their comrades’ shoulders for support. Captain Smith asked for a, cigarette, and then volunteered tiie information: "We had to climb out of a log on Monday night and went up to 4500 leet. That made a. big hole in our gas supply.” Lieutenant Pond declared that the nervous strain, the rocking of the plane and the sound of. the motors prevented much sleep during t belong, monotonous flight. He stated that they got approximately one hour’s sleep each during the 49 hours' in the air.