STARTLING EXPERIENCE

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 13 April 1934, Page 4

STARTLING EXPERIENCE

’Plane Drops 20001 Feet FAITH IN AUSTRALIA TRIP TOOLS TEAR HOLE IN FABRIC MAIN PETROL TANK LEAKS When about 300 miles from Sydney and at an altitude' of 8000 feet the Faith in Australia, experienced a bump which threw Air Ulm against the ceiling, broke several flasks of hot coffee, sprang a leak in the main:petrol tank, and threw tools against the fabric with, such force as to make holes, according •to the story of Air G. U. “Scotty” Allen,, co-pilot,, navigator, and wireless operator. Air Allen described the..experience as rather startling and said the machine must have dropped 2000 feet.

At the Richmond aerodrome in pouring ra in the departure was Witnessed by a large number of people. Owing to- the wet nature of the ground a slightly longer fun, was taken than .usual,- the distance 'being about 880 yards. From the cofnimMiceinent the"weather' "Was bumpy and steady rain continued- most of the way. The big bump was naturally very sudden. At the time Mr Ulm was lying down in the cabin, which is six feet- high. He was thrown against the ceiling, amidst the noise of breaking flasks and tools being thrown about. With much petrol in the main tank in the cabin the full weight was thrown against the front bulkhead with the result that a rivet was- sprung and benzine commenced to pour out. No repairs could he made 'at that stage, but fortunately a fair amount of petrol had by then been used from the gravity tanks in the wings. Air Boulton stopped the flow from the ruptured tank with his hand -while Air Ulm pumped the contents up into the gravity tanks.

LIGHTING FAILS

With the bump the batteries which fed the lighting- system and wireless transmitter and receiver were thrown from the 'boxes in which they were situated and all connections were broken. AVath the lighting ineffective Air Allen had a busy time groping about in the dark feeling for batteries and terminals.

After the bump they again climbed to 8000 feet, where they remained until just short of the Taranaki coast, where they commenced a gradual descent. Although it did not fain for all the journey the only -sunshine was seen within 50 miles of New Plymouth. The sea was also very rough and seemed calm only on this coast. !

EGMONT SIGHTED

As he had anticipated, said Mr Allen, the first landfall was Mt. Egmont seen from a distance of about 80 miles. Up till then a large part of the flying had been blind. Head winds were experienced all the way and at times reached the force of 33 miles an hour, although occasionally it dropped to only four miles an hour, but nevertheless it was a head wind. There was very little drift, the most being 12 degrees as compared with 21 degrees on the last New Zeafaod-Aiustrialiau flight. Air Allen paid a- tribute to the work of the engineer, Air Boulton.. The engines, he said, ran like clockwork. and never missed a beat.

The radio had functioned excellently all the way and continuous two-way communication was held with Sydney, s.s. Ka-lingo off the Australian coast, and H.AI.S. Dunedin in port at New Plymouth. “I am not a radio specialist,” he said, “and everyone dealt-with me very kindily indeed.” r He did not feel in need of rest himself during the flight, concluded Air Allen, but Air Boulton bad a sleep and Air Ulm rested on a number of occasions. Air Ulm and Air Allen divided the piloting.

TENTH TASMAN FLIGHT

LONGEST AVEST-EAST TRIP

Jit O. T. P. Ulm’s flight yesterday was the longest west to east flight yet completed. The fastest time was made in 1931 by Mr Guy Menzies, who flew from Sydney to the west coast of the South island in 12 hours I*2 minutes. The record of trans-Tasman flights is :

hr. min. 1928 —Kingsford Smith to N.Z. 14 25 1928—Kingsford'Smith to Aius. 22 51 1931—Guv Menzies to N.Z. ...12 12 1933—Kings ford Smith to N.Z. 14 10 1933—Kinsisford Smith to Aus. 13 9 1933 C. T. P. Dim to N.Z. ... 14 23 1931—0. T. P. Dim to Aiuls. ... 14 10 1934 Kingsford Smith to N.Z.-15 25 1934—Kingsford Smith to Aus. 13 25 1934—C. T. P. Dim to N.Z. ... 16 4S DISTRIBUTION OF MAILS. SOUTH ISLAND DELIVERIES. WELLINGTON, April 12. With four bags of mail, the Wellington and South Island portion of that brought by the Faith dn Australia, Squadron-Leader Findlay arrived at Kongotai in a Defence Department machine at 2.25 p.m. Two bags were left here and with the rest he continued south after thb ’plane had refuelled. A Christchurch message says, the southern mail was landed at Wigram at 4.55 p.m. and was in- the post office by 5.7. The mail was available to the public, at 6.30, or less than 231. hours after leaving Sydney. The ’plane met head winds all the way or the mail would have been in the hands of -the public earlier. A total of 6440 letters arrived at Christchurch, 3240 going on through the usual channels to tsouthern and West Coast addresses. The mail-room staff was kept very busy sorting as the air mail arrived during the sorting of the usual heavy North Island despatch.