MAJOR OVERHAUL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 289, 3 November 1934, Page 7

MAJOR OVERHAUL

KINGSFORD SMITH’S ’PLANE

LEAK IN FUEL TANK,

SOURCE OF POTENTIAL DANGER.

(United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received November 3, 9.40 a.m. HONOLULU, Nov. 2.

Army mechanics are assembling and rigging Sir Charles Kingsford Smith’s ’plane to-day after an all-night task of dismantling it to repair leaks in the oil fuel tanks. It is expected that test flights will be made late to-day or Saturday, then the ’plane will be refuelled for the hop to the mainland at noon on Saturday at the earliest. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and Captain P. G. Taylor are the guests of the Army and Air Force officers. Picked mechanics from both the Luke and Wheeler Fields worked under flood-lights all night to hasten repairs. When lifting the fuselage off the wing they found a slight fault in the main fuel tank in addition to a crack in the oil tank.

The Army Command is taking a big interest in the flight, Major Ernest Clark, commanding the Wheeler Field, spending most of his time in the repair hangar. Although on his arrival Sir Charles Kingsford Smith estimated he had fuel left for 21 hours’ flying, liis motor stopped after 25 minutes’ flying just as he landed at Wheeler Field after the test flight on Wednesday. He said lie could not have flown thirty minutes more on the hop from Suva. Army mechanics are turning the repair work into a major overhaul due to the discovery of a hole worn through the fuel tank by a bolt. Sir Charles believes the fuel was leaking on his flight from Suva, leading him to over-estimate the remaining fuel. Army mechanics are checking the rigging closely and are making many changes. FLIGHT PROGRAMME. Received November 3, 11.55 a.m. HONOLULU, Nov. 2. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith says he will make a test flight late to-day and take off between noon and 2 ,p.m. on Saturday.