TWO DAYS IN THE SKY

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 18 January 1928, Page 7

TWO DAYS IN THE SKY

ENDURANCE RECORD BID. KINGSFORD-SMITH TAKES OFF. CONFIDENT OF SUCCESS. BY CABLE-PRESS ASSOCIATION—COP YRICIIT Received 11.15 a.m. to-day. SAN FR ANCISCO, Jan. 17. Captain Kingsford-Smitli and Lie nr. Pond left Mill’s Field at eieven minutes past eight o’clock this morning in the “Spirit of California,” attempting to make an endurance record.

The ’plane carried 1532 agllons of petrol and 32 gallons of oil. It sped down the field nearly five thousand feet with great weight djie to the fuel supply before it took the air. The airmen are now carrying a hundred gallons more petrol than on their previous attempt. Captain Kingsford-Smitli stated that he and Lieut. Pond would cruise about the San Francisco bay district for the first few hours, possibly going as farsouth as San Jose.

Later a.s the petrol consumption lessened the ’plane’s weight the pair would probably’ cruise inland as far as Sacraments and Stockton.

On their previous flight they carried twenty sandwiches, hot soup, and coffee in thermos bottles and condensed chocolate with water enough to- last three days.

They must remain in the air until Thursday afternoon in. order to break the- Glerman, record.

The total weight lifted by the ’plane was 15,720 pounds, which is the heaviest taken the into- air by any ’plane on the "Pacific'coast. The weather was cold, b-ut atmospheric conditions were considered good. The three motors were warmed up for nearly an hour before the start. The heavy’- ship gained momentum slowly down the runway and, for a time, it seemed it would be unable to- get off the ground, but finally it lifted, barely clearing a dyke at the end field. When the ’plane passed out of sight southward it had attained an altitude of little over ICO feet.

Before departure Captain Smith said: “We are out to get- a record this time and it is going to take some unexpected trouble with the motors to make us come down. Weather conditions) are good and the ’plane is in perfect shape. We have increased its gasoline capacity enough to carry just the margin of gasoline that will spell victory this time.” A wireless message from the ’plane shortly before eleven o’clock stated it had climbed to- an altitude of slightly more than 1000 feet. The motors were performing perfectly. Bumpy air pockets had previously been encountered, -but atmospheric conditions had improved as tbe ’plane gained altitude.