THE PACIFIC FLIGHT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 278, 22 October 1934, Page 7

THE PACIFIC FLIGHT

SIR C. KINGSFORD SMITH ARRIVAL AT SUVA. A PERFECT LANDING.

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) SUVA, Oct. 21.

Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, who is making a flight from Australia to the United States, and who left Brisbane at 4 o’clock this morning, landed here at 6.5 p.m. - ' He was sighted at 6.4 p.m., at dusk, and after circling twice made a perfect landing at Albert Park. Sir Charles said he experienced rain and clouds from Noumea, and sighted Fiji 10 miles from Navua. He will overhaul his machine to-morrow and will leave from Naselai at 9 a.m. on Tuesday. Albert Park had been cleared of wires and fences, and the Government installed floodlights. Cars were arranged round the ground and flares prepared, but these were not necessary. Sir Charles had to push the ’plane at 180 miles in order to arrive before dusk. AN EARLY DEPARTURE.

’PLANE TO BE SOLD

BRISBANE, Oct. 21

Owing to reports that he was likely to encounter head winds all the way to Suva, Sir Charles Kingsford Smith left at 4 a.m. instead of 6 a.m. as he originallv intended.

Despite the darkness the ’plane made a successful take-off. There was a surprisingly large crowd to witness the departure considering the earliness of the hour. “I don’t know when we will be back, but we won’t be flying,” said Sir Charles. “I am flying the bus over to make the best deal with it I can to pay my backers,” he said before leaving.

ANXIETY EXPERIENCED. THROUGH LATE ARRIVAL. SUVA, Oct. 21. Great anxiety was felt at Suva on account of the late arrival of the airmen. There were heavy clouds and the visibility was poor. In circling the ground for inspection, Sir Charles narrowly missed some houses on a hill. He later stated that in suddenly turning the engine on he omitted to make allowance for the altitude of the Hill.

Sir Charles paid a tribute to his navigator (Captain P. G. Taylor). He said they sighted the sun late in the afternoon. it was a poor sight, nevertheless by dead reckoning they hit Fiji 20 miles from Suva.

Captain Taylor modestly replied: “It was by guess or by God.” Kingsford Smith added: “It will do me.”

Sir Charles admitted the landing ground was an emergency one only and was very restricted. “Fortunately every feature of it is indelibly impressed in my memory as the result of the previous flight.” The runway after landing was only 200 yards.