Sir Smithy’s Tasman Flight

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7044, 31 December 1932, Page 6

Sir Smithy’s Tasman Flight

BROTHER DOUBTFUL ABOUT AMENDED STARTING- TIME

“I hardly think that tho cabled announcement regarding my brother’s proposed time of departure from Sydney is quite correct,” states Mr. Wilfred Kingsford Smith, who is at present in New Zealand arranging an itinerary for tho Southern Cross. “‘The press message said that he intended to leave on tho afternoon of January 10, but I am inclined to think that he Wiij adhere to his original intention of making the flight almost entirely in daylight and that he will leave in the early morning of either January 11 or 12.”

WIRELESS ARRANGEMENTS Messrs Lightband and Wann, of New Plymouth, who will have charge of the wireless arrangements at tho New Plymouth Aero Club’s aerodrome at Bell Block during the flight of the Southern Cross across the Tasman, have received through the New Plymouth Aero Club a letter from Mr. J. S. W. Stannagc, who will act as wireless operator during the flight. Mr. Stannage says he w r ants to be sure .of making contact with the aerodrome just before the plane leaves the beach at Gerrigong, as one of the m.:t important things so far as they are concerned is to have an idea of the visibility of the mountain before they leave and also before they arrive. The frequency fixed for the Southern Cross is 34.025 metres and its call will be V.M.Z.A.D. The plane while in flight will bo a licensed commercial radio station transmitting messages to other commercial stations.

Mr. Stannage says that it must be understood by all amateurs and other receiving stations that they would oe committing a breach by divulging any information transmitted from the machine. Howover, at certain intervals C.Q. calls will bo made for tho general information of all stations and, of course, all radio station operators will understand tho procedure in case of urgency or distress. Arrangements have been made to have the Defence Department’s Wellington transmitter of 1500 volts —ohe of the largest short-wave transmitters in New Zealand —available to the Aero Club if required on the day of the flight. Mr. Stannage was wireless operator on board the Southern Cross when Sir Charles made his famous east to west flight across the Atlantic in June, 1930.