China Clipper in the Air

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 278, 25 November 1935, Page 6

China Clipper in the Air

First Hop of First Pacific

Service

NEW ERA IN AERIAL TRANSPORT

United Press Association —Rv Blectric Telegraph.—Copywriglit. Deceived Sunday, 9.30 p.m.

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 23.

America’s ambitious commercial aivation programme in the Pacific was officially inaugurated as the 20-ton China clipper plane of Pan-American Airways got away on a perfect start on the first payload flight to Manila via Hawaii, ..nclway, Wake and Guam Islands. It is expected the 7979-mile route will be covered in approximately sixty hours flying time.

No passengers were taken the first time. Tho cargo consisted of some two tons of mail, the postage on which totals some 00,000 dollars. Thousands of spectators lined tho bayside as the craft prepared to start. Through extensive wireless arrangement, officials in Washington, Manilla, and Honolulu spoke during the ceremonies preceding the departure. Ail envisaged closer cultural and commercial relations with the Pacific Islands as well as the Asiatic mainland when the route is extended to Canton. Tho early likelihood of extension of tho service to New Zealand aud Australia was mentioned by post office officials. With bands blaring and crowds cheering, President Trippo of Pan American Airways gave the radio signal to Captain Musick to cast off and with a roar tho giant craft took to tho air giving tho spectators an -additional thrill as she dipped under the San Fruuciseo Bay bridge now under construction.

A Honolulu message says the China clipper piano lauded, completing her flight in 21 hours 20 minutes. Who was delayed by head winds, Captain Musick reported that the plane functioned perfectly. Tho plane will tako off on Sunday on the second leg u the voyage, taking fourten passengers, all Pan-American employees, from Honolulu to the mid-Paeifio bases. The ai-ival was delayed also to "changing ,tho course to view the eruption of the volcano ou Mauualoa Island, Hawaii. Army and navy planes escorted the dipper to her landing. Thousands of spectators, including Government officials greeted the plane. Meanwhile a sister Philippine’s clipper was winging north to San Diego from Acapulco, Moxico.

Captain Musick said: ‘‘Tho tap was uneventful and comfortable. Wo did not try to set a speed record.” Tho piano brought a hundred thousand pieces of mail weighing nearly two tons to Houolulu and ports beyond. The passenger service will not start until after livo trans-Pacific flights. The first three art tc Manila and tho next two extending to Macso. The arrival makes Honolulu tho future hub of the Pacific air travel crossroads of air lino connection between the United States and the Orient and the United States and the Antipodes. Tho clipper crew were given a typical Hawaiian welcome aud were decorated with garlands of flowers. The third plane will soon be ready for service. Trans-Atlantic Air Mails CONFERENCE PREPARING SERVICE. Received Sunday 9.50 p.m. OTTAWA, Nov. 23. Busily engaged in laying the groundwork for trans-Atlantic air mail services between Canada and tho British Isles, a conference of officials awaited reports of the sub committees considering tho various phases of the project. A communique issued on Saturday by. the conference liaison officer, Mr Bering Christie, of the Canadian Interior Department, stated that tno conference would stand adjourned until the sub-couiinittccs completed the preliminary reports of their work. Ho declined to amplify tho statement. Representatives of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, Irish Free State, Newfoundland and Canada are attending.