TASMAN FLIGHT

Hokitika Guardian, 6 January 1933, Page 5

TASMAN FLIGHT

AID BY RADIO CO-OPERATION WITH OPERATORS Australian Press Association.) SYbDNEY, January 5. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith has arranged with a number of amateur radio stations to furnish data regarding the weather conditions both in Australia and New Zealand prior ta jiis flight. The start of the flight has tentatively been fixed for the early morning of Wednesday next, January 11. The messages of the amateur radio stations will be sent to Mr Hutchinson, of lvirribilli, who, in turn, will send them to the weather bureau at Sydney, where a report will lie compiled, and will be telegraphed to Smith at Gorringong. There has been a re-arrangement of , the exhaust pipes on the Southern Cross. This has rendered the wireless cabin comparatively noiseless. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith has ■lcon inundated with good luck messages, which are arriving at the rate of one hundred tier day.

The only luggage which the crew will take will be their pyjamas, toothbrushes and razors.

WIRELESS ARRANGEMENTS. NEW ZEALAND STATIONS Complete arrangements are , being made by Australian and New Zealand amateur wireless organisations for communication with the Southern Cross during Sir Charles Kingsford Smith’,s trans-Tasman flight. The whole of the radio organisation is in the hands of members of the New Zealand Amateur Radio Transmitters’ Association and the Zero Beat Club, of Sydney, which will supply the wireless operator of the Southern Cross, Mr J. S. W. Stannago, with weather reports and important messages while the flight is in progress. * ■

The principal Australian stations will be established on Gerringong Beach. In New Zealand a North Island control station, with a 100-watt ‘transmitter, will be set up at the New Plymouth aerodrome by Mr L, Birch (ZL2HI) of New Plymouth. A South Island control station will be that of Vr A. R. Harris (ZL2CA), of Dunedin. The wave-length of the Southern Cross has not been finalised, but tire call signal will be VMZAB. For five days priori-to tile flight five New Zealand amateurs will be kept in fairly consistent communication with Mr Stannage and official weather reports from Wellington will be transmitted.

In a recent letter to Mr Birch, Mr Stannage stated that the most important requirements on the flight would be weather 1 reports and indications of the visibility of Mount Egmont.