THE TASMAN FLOWN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 306, 23 November 1934, Page 7

THE TASMAN FLOWN

WHITEHEAD AND NICHOLL. AT NINETY MILE BEACH. PROCEED TO MANGERE. , Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Nov. 23. Flying-Officer Whitehead and Mr R. Nicholl landed at Ninety Mile Beach at 7.20 o’clock last night in the Faith in New Zealand from Gerriugong Beach. This morning they Hew- to Auckland, landing at Manger© at about 7.20 a.m. after completing the 13th successful crossing of. the Tasman.

The first to greet the Tasman airmen on their arrival at Mangere was Mr jM. Buzio, a member of the aero club. He had, after reading all the reports, come to the conclusion that the aeroplane had landed somewhere last night, that it would appeal’ early this morning, and that the possibility was it would arrive at Mangere. He had only been at the aerodrome a few minutes jtt r hen, at about 7 o’clock, be beard the drone of a ’plane overhead and was not greatly surprised to see it was the Faith in New Zealand. It landed on the outskirts of the aerodrome and the engine stopped. Mr Buzio rushed over and found Messrs •Whitehead and Nicholl pleased, but not excited. They looked worn and ' were obviously very tired. LANDING AT DUSK.

They told Mr Buzio they had allowed a wide margin for the southern drift, and at dusk last night had sighted “a good piece of sand.” They did not know where they were, except that it was somewhere in North Auckland. They decided it was better to land there than to look for an aerodrome. Having landed, they thought of telephoning, but could find no habitation. They, therefore, stayed the night on the beach and-set off early this morning in order to allay the anxiety felt for them as soon as possible. After being given a light meal, the airmen were put to bed, but will be awakened later in the morning. ACTUAL LANDING PLACE. STILL A~SURMISE. Per Press Association. WHANGAREI, Nov. 23. The only inforamtion to hand tends to show that the airmen came down on Ninety Mile Beach, but this is pure surmise, for as far as is known they were seen by no one. The relieving postmaster at Kaitaia (213 miles north-west of Auckland) says it is believed in the district that the fliers landed at Hukatere, where a garage and camping ground are situated. : %Mr Allen, the Auckland Aero Club instructor, who with other Auckland pilots gave a display- in the far north yesterday, flew along the coast from Aliipara (north-west of Auckland) at the lower end of the beach, to the North Cape at 6.30 this morning and saw no sign of the airmen. . . Other reports received at Kaitaia state that a ’plane was seen crossing Herekino (22 miles from Kaitaia), which is south of Ninety Mile Beach, at daylight. EARLIER MESSAGES. PREPARATIONS~FOR RECEPTION. DISAPPOINTMENT AT NEW . PLYMOUTH. Per Press Association. NEW PLYMOUTH, Nov. 22. Preparations for the landing of Messrs Whitehead and Niclioll were made this afternoon when officials and a fair-sized crowd waited with floodlights and flares in the hope of greeting the Tasman fliers, but as the evening wore on their hopes diminished. No arrangements had been made by the airmen for their landing, hut nothing was left undone that could have assisted them had they arrived. The day was perfectly fine, with a cloudbank visible over the horizon and a few clouds floating inland. Tonight, until darkness fell, the visiting Centenary air race competitors and club aeroplanes scouted the coastline in the hope of picking up the fliers. VIGIL AT WELLINGTON. SEVERAL FALSE REPORTS. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Nov. 22. ‘ In the belief that the- airmen did not intend to land at New Plymouth, but to use Mt. Egmont as a landmark and then come on to Wellington, thus completing the first Sydney-WelLington direct non-stop flight, a large number of people gathered at Rongotai aerodrome this evening, among them being Flying-Officer Whitehead’s parents, Mr •and Mrs A. P. Whitehead, and his cister, Miss Joyce Whitehead. There was much excitement when a report was received chat a monoplane, presumably from Australia, had been sighted at Onehunga at 5.20. It was assumed that- the report was accurate and on this basis it was estimated that, with a following wind, the Faith in New Zealand would arrive at Rongotai at about 8 p.m. Some time afterward, however, it was stated that the aeroplane seen was a local machine. Weather conditions at Rongotai were then ideal, with bright sunshine and few clouds, and a steady northerly wind prevailed. As time wore on and darkness set in, the wind strengthened slightly, but the sky remained clear, with a good moon. Arrangements for a night landing were then taken in hand and a flare path prepared. Everything was ready for the airmen’s arrival. No further news came, but the aerodrome telephone was kept engaged by a seemingly unending stream of inquiries. The majority of those present remained in the club-house and at 9.15 o’clock, one of the watchers reported the noise of an engine. This caused a general exodus to the flying field, but no machine was silhouetted against the star-lit sky and the waiting watchers returned to the club-room. Apparently the noise was that of a motor-cycle engine. Nothing further was heard and the gathering began to thin out. The northerly later became gusty and increased in strength and the clouds thickened. The pilots present calculated that, with the petrol supply of the fliers being 117 gallons,' it would hold out until shortly before midnight, assuming a petrol consumption of six gallons an hour, which is the normal rate. Postal officials throughout the - Dominion were held at their posts until this evening and were then released on the understanding that, if the' plane was seen, they were to report to A\elPREPARATIONS FOR SEARCH. An aerial search for the missing aeroplane was to have begun early this morning, to embrace the entir,. nest £,asfc of New Zealand. Squadron-

Leader G. L. Stedman was to leave ltongotai airport at 5 a.in. for Nelson,and continue over Takalta, and Collingwood to Westport- Flight-Lieuten-ant J. C. Mercer, Canterbury, was to fly over to Westport and then go south, returning to Hokitika at the completion of his search. , . A New Plymouth Aero Club machine was to go to Wellington, and Auckland machines were to scan the coast between New Plymouth and the North Cape. . . • These activities fortunately are now. unnecessary, AUSTRALIAN COMMENTS. “VERY FOOLHARDY.” COMMENT IN MELBOURNE. Received November 23, 10.35 a.m. MELBOURNE, Nov. 23. Aviation officials described Messrs Whitehead and Nicholl’s flight as “very foolhardy.” .1 p. The Controller of Civil Aviation (Captain E. Johnston) said the department had no power to seize the machine or stop the flight. STATEMENT BY OFFICIAL. INSTRUCTIONS NOT TO FLY. SYDNEY, Nov. 21. _ The acting-superintendent of Civil Aviation at Mascot aerodrome (Mr T. Johnson) said to-day that he was unaware of Whitehead and Nicholl s takeoff from Mascot yesterday. He added that they were told not to ny the machine with the existing installation, which was consdered unsatisfactory. The Civil Aviation Department may take action if they return to Australia. The fliers’ only provisions were caffein' tablets to keep them awake, a thermos flask of coffee, a packet of sandwiches, and a supply of chewing gum. _ their ’plane is the oldest Puss Moth in Australia and it has the original engine. Leading aviators at Mascot aerodrome declare that the flight was most ill-advised ill the particular machine used. OAREERJ3F PILOT. SEARCH FOR ADVENTURE. Flying-Officer Raymond Galbraith Whitehead is the only son of Mr and Mrs A. P. Whitehead, of Stokes Valley, Wellington, and a nephew of Mrs Ellen Whitehead, of 11 Beresford Street, Palmerston North. His father is one of the principals of Messrs Whitehead and Pears, Wellington. Educated at Wellington College, which he attended from 1922 to 1926, and Victoria University College, he was a member of the Dominion literary staff from 1927 to 1930. He then joined the Royal Air Force on a short service commission, and after training was posted to No. 32 (Fighter) Squadron. Early last year he was transferred to the reserve at his own request, and returned to New Zealand, where he took out a commercial pilot’s license. About a year ago he left for Sydney in search of flying adventure. He then had half-settled plans to proceed to China, where ferrying machines to various provinces and service with the various war lords held out possibilities of both thrills and profit but further inquiries in Sydney showed that the prospects in the East were not so bright as he had expected. For a time he considered flying in New Guinea, where aviation is the chief means of transport but shortly afterward bought the Puss Moth in w’hich he undertook the Tasman flight. Since then lie has conducted a successful air taxi service at Mascot aerodrome, and has done about 200 hours’ flying. He was also a foundation member of the Wellington Aero Club. Flying-Offi-cer Whitehead has the rare distinction of having served in all three services, Army, Navy and Air Force. He was first a cadet in the Wellington College battalion, and when the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve was instituted he was one of the first to join it. His commission in the junior service completed the cycle. How long he has had a Tasman flight in mind is not known, but one of his flying instructors in the Air ■ Force w-as Flying-Officer Kay, who ■ crossed the Tasman with Squadron- • Leader Hewett, and his most intimate companion was, at that time, Flying Officer Guy Menzies, who flew the Tasi man solo in 1931. Mr R. Nicholl is 26 years old, and had been residing at Manly, Sydney. . He has been in Sydney since boyhood, . but he is believed to have been born • in New Zealand. THE ELIERS’ ’PLANE. PUSS MOTHMACHINE. The Puss Moth aeroplane which crossed the Tasman yesterday is a high -wing monoplane and of the cabin type, with seats for three persons. There were several machines of this make at Milson aerodrome last'week. The engine is a 4-cylinder inverted type giving the machine a speed of about 110 miles an hour. It was in a Puss Moth ’plane that Miss Amy Johnson (Mrs J. A. Mollison) flew to South Africa a few years ago. About twelve months ago the Australian authorities were concerned about this type of machine owing to several serious accidents; and additional bracing was added to the struts that are used to brace the wing to give the required strength to cope with bumpy air conditions. The Puss Moth type is now no longer manufactured. The machine used yesterday in the Tasman flight has a smaller engine than the Miles Hawk ’plane, and while Messrs McGregor and Walker had to discard their cushions, overcoats and luggage in order to carry 55 gallons of petrol under the certificate of airworthiness of England, the Puss Moth left Australia with 120 gallons of petrol aboard. No Government, it is stated, would grant a certificate of airworthiness for such an overload, considering the engine horse-power and the: size of the ’plane. The Puss Moth “Faith m New Zealand” is potvered by a 120 li.p. inverted Gipsy engine, and it is understood is the first Puss Moth to have been taken to Australia. It was obtained by Mi- Whitehead’s father, and is at least four years old and had been rebuilt by the airmen themselves. Preparations for the flight, such as installing tanks for extra fuel supply and painting the name on the ’plane, were carried out at Mascot at night time by friends of the aviators, virtually in secrecy. There was at that time no intention to leave without proper authority, and Commonwealth officials subjected the machine to the customary tests, which were then declared to have been successfully passed. „ , TT .. In a description of the De Havilland Puss Moth, powered by a 120li.p. Gipsy 111. engine, the Sydney Telegraph said: — The biggest petrol tank ever seen at Mascot in such a small, machine left them so little space that one of the fliers has to sit between the other s knees. The cabin is festooned with petrol pipes, and a length of hosepipe makes the oil feed. Essential equipment leaves so little leg room that they will have to take ■ thenboots off. And as for luggage— not even a tooth brush!” The machine, which normally carries two or three persons, lias an engine of the four-cylinder in-line inverted

type. Its petrol capacity is 117 gallons. and its range 20 hours at 100 m.p.li. It is registered as VH-—UON. It was in a similar machine, although with 10 more horse-power, that Mr J. A. Mollison crossed both the north and south Atlantic Oceans. THE LEGAL POSITION. UNREGISTERED AEROPLANES. The fact that Messrs Whitehead and Nicholl made their flight in the face of the cancellation of both the certificate of registration and certificate of airworthiness for the machine suggests that some form of legal action may follow (says the Auckland Star). The regulations under the Air Navigation Act, 1931, state that no person may fly any aircraft within the Dominion of New Zealand unless certain conditions are complied with. One of these regulations is that a prescribed certificate as to airworthiness must be carried in the aircraft. In the case of machines registered outside of New Zealand, “prescribed” means prescribed by the law of the State in which the machine is registered. Persons breaking the Dominion regulations are liable to a term of imprisonment not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding £2OO or to both such penalties. It appears clear from the cables from Sydney that the. act of Messrs Whitehead and Nicholl in talc-, ing off from Australia without the necessary certificates created a breach of the regulations in force in New South Wales. It is understood that in special circumstances permission can be granted for an unregistered machine to be flown.