SAFE ARRIVAL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 285, 30 October 1934, Page 7

SAFE ARRIVAL

KINGSFORD SMITH AT HONOLULU

FLIGHT OF 25 HOURS.

EARLY MORNING LANDING

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received October 30, 9.40 a.ni. HONOLULU, Oct. 29.

Establishing further progress in his transpacific flight, Sir Charles Kingsford Smith landed at Wheeler Field at 8.40 a.m. after a flight of 25 hours’ actual flying time.

In a radio message from the ’plane received at Honolulu at 2.30 a.m., Sir Charles stated that he was 660 miles from the Wheeler Field. At 6.40 a.m. he radioed that he expected to land in two hours.

The clouds were very thick' as the ’plane passed over Molokai Island at 8.10 a.m., 30 miles from the Wheeler Field.

The fliers were smothered in leis as they climbed wearily from the cockpit. They declared that the flight lacked unexpected incidents. Sir Charles said he would probably take off for Los Angeles early to-mor-row. ,

When they landed they had fuel left for 2i hours’ flying. Sir Charles said: “It takes Australians to do it” as he shook hands with Mr John Stannage after landing. “The flight will pave the way for transpacific :»i r traffic between the United States and Australia. The flight we are making convinces me that a transpacific air service will be a realisation in the not distant future.” He said the service would probably not be perfected until between five and ten years’ time. Sir Charles said two problems face an air service, namely, long overseas flights and lack of paying Loads. He believed that multi-engined land planes were the best. . The fliers sighted the south tip of Hawaii at 6.30 a.m., but were uncertain of their position until over Molokai, 30 miles from Honolulu, at 7.15 a.m. They cruised slowly until intercepted over Waikiki by an Army pursuit squadron and then manoeuvred the plane 2000 feet over Honolulu to run away from the escort for a short They then joined the formation and proceeded to Wheeler Field. SPLENDID WELCOME.

Thousands of people jambed the field, where Sir Charles landed the first Southern Cross six years ago. Five thousand people watched the landing as Sir Charles circled the field and landed and brought the plane to the concrete runway before the hangar. The military forces were unable to keep the crowd from swarming around the fliers.

General Halsted Doret, commanding the United States Army forces here, the Mayor of Honolulu (Mr Fred Wright)” and representatives of the Honolulu Chamber of Commerce were among the dignitaries at the reception.

Sir Charles Kingsford Smith’s first request was for a cigarette. He minimised the difficulties, but admitted the fliers were delayed by head winds and rain clouds. They ate several sandwiches and drank cocoa en route, but, in spite of this, were hungry. Lieutenant E. W. Stephens, navy aerographer, predicted strong head winds within a few hours, delaying the' fliers’ progress if they took off to-mor-row. There was a storm area along the United States Pacific Coast.

Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, Captain P. G. Taylor and Mr Stannage were driven to the Royal Hawaiian Hotel for breakfast. The fliers complained of feeling tired.

PROGRESS OF FLIGHT. At 2.30 p.m., Honolulu time, Tutuila reported that Sir Charles was in latitude 6 degrees 50 minutes, longitude 173 degrees 33 minutes west. The distance run was 950 miles. “We are now at 2500 feet, with 10 miles visibility and the weather very warm,” he reported. A later message stated that Sir Charles had sighted one of the Phoenix Islands, believed to bs Hull, at 4.10 p.m., Honolulu time. He passed Birnie Island at 4.48 p.m., and at 6.23 p.m. radioed Fanning Island that he would make Hawaii in. a single hop. He said, “The petrol in the wing tanks is finished. According to the consumption to date, we are quite safe on fuel. All 0.1 v.” A later message reported the plane to be at the lialf-way mark, but Sir Charles had advised that lie was throttling down so as to arrive at dawn. His 6.30 p.m. position was longitude 170 degrees west, latitude four-tenths degrees south. At 7.30 p.m. he was in the same latitude and at 169 degrees west longitude. He apparently turned east to pass over Fanning Island. His position at 8.30 p.m. was latitude 2.129 degrees north, longitude 168.101 degrees west. “The night is very black,” be stated, “but we will get a full moon in about four hours. There are plenty of stars for taking sights.” Earlier the plane had been reported to be flying at 6500 feet in beautiful weather. Their position at 9.30 p.m.' was latitude 3.48 degrees north, longitude L 67.15 degrees west. They reported at 10 p.m. that everything was splendid, with a good smooth night. At 10.30 the position was latitude 5.28 degrees north, longitude 166.16 degrees west. At 12.30 the plane was SSO miles from Wheeler Field. ALMOST MET DEATH.

’PLANE IN VIOLENT SPIN

Received October 30, 11.45 a.m. HONOLULU, Oct. 29. Sir Charles Kin>.ford Smith changed liis plans this morning and delayed the take-off for three or four days. The coast city at which he will land has not yet been decided upon. At the Royal Hawaiian Hotel Sir Charles revealed a narrow escape in a 6torm accompanied by blinding rain and lightning at mid nigh”. They , ran into heavy weather at 12,000 feet, and lie leaned forward to turn on the headlights to improve the vision, hut humped into the switch releasing the landing gear. The shock threw the ’plane into a violent spin and they plunged down 6000 feet before he pulled it out of the spin. “We thanked God we had so much altitude, otherwise we would have met our doom,” said Sir Charles. > The rain lasted for an hour and flooded the pilot head, throwing the air speed indicator out of action. Sir Charles said he was forced to “wifggle” the ’plane in order to feel his way and had to guess the air speed. Sir Charles said the brakes broke in landing at the Wheeler Field, forcing the plane into a ground loop on to the concrete before the hangar. The crowds thought he purposely swung the ’plane around in front of them. j He said: “Taylor is a wizard. With'

Harold Gatty he is the best in the world. He found the exact point aimed for in the Hawaiian Group.” The Army are checking the ’plane to-day while the fliers rest at the Waikiki Hotel. They are replacing some of the fabric on the wings, which were split by wind and rain. The delay of the next hop is due to had weather oil the United States coast.

Sir Charles was delighted when assigned to “my lucky room,” the same one as he used on his 1928 flight. His baggage consisted of a liaircomb and a toothbrush, carried in his pocket. He was rushed to the hotel with a motorcycle escort and faced a battery of cameras and radio microphones in his room. The fliers answered a heap of telegrams and then went to bed, declaring they expect to sleep for 24 hours.

APPRECIATION OF REMARKS,

BY SIR MACPHERSON ROBERTSON.

.SUVA, Oct. 20. Interviewed at Naselai Beach prior to the take-off this morning, Sir Charles Kingsford Smith said he greatly appreciated the kindly reference by Sir Macpherson Robertson at the Centenary race luncheon, in which the latter referred to his dealings with Sir Charles and paid a tribute to Sir Charles’s character. “I hope it will clear up much unfriendly criticism,” 1 added Sir Charles.