THE TASMAN FLIGHT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 306, 23 November 1934, Page 8

THE TASMAN FLIGHT

AN UNEVENTFUL TRIP. INTERVIEW WITH AIRMEN. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Nov. 23. “We had a violent desire to come to New Zealand and decided that flying was the cheapest and best way,” said Flying-Officer R. Whitehead and Mr R. Niclioll, when interviewed at Mangere aerodrome after they had enjoyed a short sleep. They both appeared well, though tired and stiff, and. readily answered a long series of questions. Their flight was quite uneventful and the weather on the whole was good, though they passed through thunderstorms. They flew mostly between 500 and 1000 feet above the sea and sighted a small ship about 350 miles off the coast, but did not identify it. Then, when about 60 miles off the coast,' they sighted teagulls and this assured them that they were somewhere near land. They .sighted land thirteen hours af+er leaving Australia. (It seems likeiy there is some confusion here between New Zealand and Australian times.) Believing themselves further south than they actually were, they turned north but found themselves losing the land and saw islands further to the north, so they turned south again and flew down the East Coast .red landed on a small beach at 6.35.

After landing, the airmen saw a house some distance away and attempted to reach it, but came to a stream which they could not cross, so they returned to the ’plane and lighted a fire and spent the night. They were unable to, sleep. They had 2i to 3 hours’ petrol left and this morning flew down to' Mangere. Questioned about flying without a license, they. said they had been advised in ‘Australia by the Civil Aviation Department that their license had been cancelled. This was solely because of the tank they had installed. Actually they brought their license with them. Their ’plane had been purchased by Mr Whitehead eight months ago and it was over a cup of coffee at Mascot aerodrome that they had suddenly decided to fly to New Zealand together. They considered that as the ’plane had flown about 1000 hours without ever a forced landing they would be unlucky if it failed them oh this flight. Actually the engine never missed a beat. They had an emergency petrol pumping system and also a makeshift oil pump, which functioned perfectly. They concluded that it was useless carrying wireless, because if they came down they could not hope to be rescued. They would cLo the flight again, but would not like to be so cramped next time.

ACTION IN MELBOURNE? Received November 23, 1 p.m. MELBOURNE, Nov. 23. It is not known whether legal action will be taken against Messrs Whitehead and Niclioll for having taken off in an uncertified machine. The penalty for such a breach of the regulations is a fine of not more than £2OO or not more than six months’ imprisonment, or both. Captain Johnson said the question of taking action depended on whether the fliers would return to Australia.