LATE EDITION

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 1 June 1928, Page 9

LATE EDITION

’PLANE GOING WELL

MESSAGES FROM CAPT. SMITH

FLIGHT TO HONOLULU.

SCENES AT THE START,

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—BY ELECTRIC

. TELEGRAPH —COPYKIGHT.) (AUSTRALIAN PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Received 11.30 a.m. to-day. SAN FRANCISCO 1 , May 31

The monoplane “Southern Cross” .was in almost constant communication with, radio stations at San Francisco during the early stages of the flight to Honolulu, which commenced this morning. The messages told of passing the Golden Gate and out over the vast expanse of the Pacific. A message received shortly before ten o’clock in .the morning from Captain Smith said: “Everything going fine. The weather is perfect and the motors are working splendidly.” 'At 11.15 Smith radioed: “Flying at an. altitude of two thousand feet, all Jvell.”.

The speed was not given, but it was estimated that the ’plane was then 100 miles or more from Oakland. The engines continue to function perfectly and the crew is in the best of spirits.

FAVOURABLE WEATHER) FOKJiL'Ao x. Received 10.45 a.m. to-day. SAN FRANCISCO, May 31. Captain Smith refused to state definitely whether he would be starting this morning when he entered the cockpit, but as the motors started he shouted “cheerio” to his friends standing nearby and began examining the charts on the instrument board. The other members of the crew entered the ’plane and took their positions shortly before Captain Smith entered the cockpit. The United States Weather Bureau at San Francisco reported favourable conditions for the flight. The report said: “Aeroplanes leaving this morning for the Hawaiian Islands will have broken low clouds and moderate to fresh northerly winds. The average wind velocity will be about 16 miles per hour for the first 400 miles then light and variable winds and l broken Btrato of cumulus clouds until in the vicinity of the Hawaiian Islands is approached, when clear skies and moderate east winds, of a velocity of 20 miles per hour, will he encountered. No disturbances are chartered over the route between San Francisco and Hawaii.” The report concluded that the weather and wind conditions are favourable for the start. in cash of emergency. PREP A RATI GunS THAI HAVE XJXUJIkN, iVIAXXJL. Received 11.10 a.m. to-day. 0.-U X' ita:NOisuU, AX ay 31. A hacksaw • was put in tne cockpit of the 'plane to be used in cutting away the tUree lieavy engines in case tliey were xorcea to descend on tne water. Oapiam ibmitn was conndent tnat the ’plane would remain aaoat for some nours witn tne engines cut away and. the petroi tan its emptied by tne emergency valves.

x'Xie wireless operator, Mr Warner, is expected to make nouriy reports of the position or the ’plane to tne land stations along the Californian coast and in Hawaii and t<> ships at sea. The .’plane carries three radio, sets, one being supplied with power by storage batteries, so that a message fox- aid could be sent out even if tne motors were disabled. Nine vessels were reported early to-day to be along the route to Honolulu, namely, tne Calawaii,. Vigilant, Massa Lubnco, Herborg, . VViifielmia, President Mexvinley, jYialoro and the tug Meigh. All were advised to keep a constant look out for the passage of the ’plane. Word of the departure was flashed immediately to Honolulu, where army officers stood ready to begin working the radio beacon at the Wheeler field.

Friends pressed around Captain Smith and his companions as they walked from the administration building of the airport and took up their positions in the ’plane. One of the women who last talked with Captain Smith was the mother of Lieutenant Eichwaklt, who perished in the Dole flight. Mns Eichwaldt presented Captain Smith with a silver ring which her son fashioned from, a franc piece while serving with the American forces in France.

SLIGHTLY OUT OF COURSE

AFTERNOON REPORT FROM FLIERS.

Received 11.10 a.m. to-day. SAN FRANCISCO, May 31. Early this afternoon the fliers reported that they were slightly off the course four hundred miles out. The conditions were favourable. They expect to remain at Hawaii for thirty-six hours and thence depart for Suva.

OVER THREE HUNDRED MILES COVERED.

SAN FRANCISCO, May 31

At 12.30 this afternoon the “Southern Cross” messages indicated that it had covered over three hundred miles. The ’plane was flying perfectly.

A SIGNAL FOR BEARINGS,

Received 1.5 p.m. to-dav. HONOLULU, May 81. A commercial wireless station here says that it picked up a message from the “Southern Cross’’ which was signalling/to the steamer Wilhelmina, for position and bearings. Tlie agents state that the Wilhelmina is 1777 miles from Honolulu.

RADIO I DEACON JUST Received 1.5 p.m. to-day. SAN FR ANCISCO, May 31. The “Southern Cross” is reported to have lost the radio' beacon at Grissey field, but is expected to pick it up soon again. It said to be averaging approximately 85 miles per hour.

STTLL GOING STRONG

latest message from ’plane. Received 1 2.15 p.m. to-day. SAN FRANCISCO', May 81. The last messages from, the ’plane indicate that it is flying at 2500 feet and averaging 80 miles per hour. Lieut. Ulm relieved Captain Smith twice for short periods and will soon take the first long shift at the controls. The afternoon is reported as “cloudy with clear spots. A few clouds along the

water don’t) allow us to see very far ahead.”. At 1.30 p.m. the airmen reported that they were communicating with the S.S. Wilhelmina. Their position at noon was 32.35 north longitude and 132.03 west (six hundred miles). Later Lieut. Ulm reported “visibility excellent under clouds. Captain Kingsford Smith and I feel as if we are sitting on top of the World.”