THIRTEEN DAYS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 80, 4 March 1929, Page 14

THIRTEEN DAYS

AUSTRALIA TO LONDON. SMITH-ULM PLANS. Fitted with three new propellers specially armoured to stand up to the assault of monsoonal rains over Java and Burma, and the hail and ice over alpine valleys, the Southern Cross is in perfect condition for the attempt of * Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith and Flight-Lieut. Ulm to fly from Australia to- London in 13 days.,

The real attempt on the fastest time will begin from Wyndham * and, according to present plans, the fliers aim to leave at an early date. No other machine that has yet made the flight did even a fraction of the night flying that the schedule of the historic blue monoplane will involve. With mountain peaks to be crossed, heavy climbing to be done and every prospect of much dirty weather to be faced, the flight will be arduous. As before, however, “thorough” is the watchword of Smith and ulm. Every nut and gadget of the machine has been overhauled completely. “Doc” Maidment left the three Wright whirlwind engines in perfect condition after the Tasman flight, and very little w'ork needs to be done on them. As the fliers lent their earth inductor compass and some engine parts to Captain Hurley for his flight, another inductor compass had to be obtained from America. Mr Litchfield, the navigator, has the whole course plotted, and Mr McWilliams, the wireless man, has a complete tabulation of radio stations and call signs. ONLY TWO HAZARDS.

Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith said the other day that, in liis opinion, the flight held only two hazards. First, lieavv rain at Wyndham might delay the start, and there was a possibility that the ’piano would have to face much rain and savage tropical storms over Java, and to the north-west of the island. Then, they had to be wary in dodging the 12,000 r ft. mountain peaks on the islands in that region. A big petrol load would not allow the machine to climb over 12,000 feet, and special care would have to be taken at night. There was a probability of worrying storms as far as Calcutta, but after Bagdad it looked like “plain sailing.” Given perfect conditions that would permit the Southern Cross to lift a maximum petrol load as she did at Barking Sands, Hawaii, they hoped to fly non-stop from Bagdad to London. It was problematical whether they would be able to achieve that _ ambition, because' of possible violent weather over Europe, and the hazards of the Alpine crossing, where the peaks thrust up to 15,000 feet. Those factors might cause them to land at Rome and fly through the Alpine passes by daylight. “But, while we are hopeful of making the fastest time on the flight,” he added, “owing to the enormous weight of our machine and the adverse weather at this time of the year, we may not succeed in doing so. With a machine of varying weights between four and a half and six and a half tons, we may bog heavily on an aerodrome where a lighter machine could land in safety.” Once again tho organising skill of Flight-Lieutenant Ulm is in evidence in the meticulous mapping of the route and alternative routes, and the arranging of petrol and oil supplies. An instance of this is his direction to agents to test certain landing grounds by driving a heavy loaded motor car across them at 40- miles an hour. Such a test is regarded as fairly conclusive in considering the suitability of a ’drome. RANGOON FIRST STOP? Taking 1100 gallons of petrol and 40 gallons of oil at Wyndham, the fliers hope to speed non-stop to Singapore. An agent has reported that Victoria Point is entirely unsuitable as a landing ground for such a large machine. If head winds and adverse weather aro struck, Kalidgati will be the intermediate halt. Singapore has a poor landing ground. Eight hundred feet of it is an uphill slope. If the ’plane can make the best of this, with 1100 gallons of petrol, a non-stop dasli to Rangoon, in Burma, is planned. There, permission has been granted the fliers to land on the new racecourse, which is 3500 feet long. The flyers propose to fly non-stop, from Rangoon to Allahabad, rest for a day, and push on non-stop across India to Karachi. . Calcutta is the intermediate stop, if “take-off” conditions prevent the ’plane from picking up enough petrol. With 1200 gallons of spirit at Karachi, they hope to make Bagdad in one hop. From the city of the Caliphs, • a long 2680 miles non-stop flight to London, is the objective. The Southern Cross will roar its way over the silent ridges of Gallipoli, where Smith and Ulm both saw service 13 years ago. The Italian Air Force has agreed to give every help if bad weather should cause Smith to land at Rome,, and take London in a second hop. From Bagdad to London 2680 miles is nearly 500 miles less than the hop of the Southern Cross from Hawaii to Suva.

Bad weather has delayed the departure of the Southern Cross.