Centaurus Completes England-N.Z. Flight; Arrival At Auckland

Northern Advocate, 27 December 1937, Page 6

Centaurus Completes England-N.Z. Flight; Arrival At Auckland

[Special to "Northern Advocate ”] AUCKLAND. This Day. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE PERFECT FOR THE TASMAN CROSSING OF THE CENTAURUS—THE LAST LAP OF HER SURVEY FLIGHT FROM ENGLAND TO NEW ZEALAND,

A Press Association message from Sydney announced that the Centaurus, with a. New Zealander, Captain J. W. Burgess, in command, left there at G o'clock this morning, New Zealand time, and passed over Sydney Heads five miivutes later. Frequent messages were sent from the Centaurus, first to Sydney, and later direct to New Zealand. The waterfront was crowded this afternoon for the arrival of the Centaurus. All was in readiness at the Pan American Airways mooring jetty, where the official reception was held. Contact by wireless with the flyingboat as she crossed the Tasman, and also with Sydney, was maintained throughout the day from the Chief Post Office, where Group-Commander Wilkes. Controller of Civil Aviation, and other Air Force officers were installed. The- Centaurus was sighted just about 3 o’clock, and as she circled over the harbour, upon which she made a beautiful landing at 3.15, great enthusiasm was aroused. The British pioneer ’plane was duly moored alongside her American contemporary, the Union Jack and the Stars and Stripes flying side by side.

The Tasman Record

Clipper. Fortunately, the flame; were extinguished. After Health and Customs officers had boarded the ’plane, the crew came ashore, and were officially welcomed by the Hon. T. Bloodworth (chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board). Sir Ernest Davis (the Mayor of Auckland), the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage (Prime Minister), and the New Zealand representative of Imperial Airways. Captain Burgess, who is an Aucklander, received a most enthusiastic reception.

A complete record of the Tasman flight of the Centaurus is contained in the messages sent out from the time she left Sydney:— 6 a.m. —Left Sydney for New Zealand.

6.50 a.m.— 1 70 miles out from Sydney. Travelling at a speed of 105 knots; altitude 6000 feet.

8 a.m.—208 miles from Sydney. The Centaurus’s speed is 125 knots, and the altitude 8500 feet.

9 a.m. —The distance from Sydney is now 320 miles. The speed is 113 knots and the altitude 9000 feet. 9.30 a.m.—Distance from Sydney now 378 miles; speed 115 knots, and altitude 9100 feet.

10.30 a.m. —'We are now 690 miles from Auckland, flying at 9300 feet, and at a speed of 123 knots. Expect to arrive at Auckland at 3.40 p.m.

11 a.m. —630 miles from destination, travelling at 120 knots, at an altitude of 9500 feet.

11.15 a.m.—Auckland is now 569 miles away. Speed now 123 knots, flying at 9500 feet. 11.30 a.m—The flying-boat is 505 miles from Auckland, and is travelling at a speed of 126 knots, at a height of 10,000 feet.

11.45 a.m.—Distance to Auckland, 390 miles: speed 126 knots; altitude 5500 feet. Noon. —360 miles from Auckland. Speed 150 knots. Fuel load lessened, making more speed. 12.59 p.m.—Expect to arrive 2.35 p.m. IYA coming in strong, and will call them and try communications at 1.15. 1 p.m.—Now 245 miles from Auckland. Travelling at 157 knots, at a height of 9300 feet.

The Arrival,

After many false alarms, the Cen-

taurus was seen coming in over Queen Street just after 3 o'clock. It was a great day for New* Zealand as the ’plane from England was tied up

alongside the ’plane from America. The Ccntaurus lies about 150 yards from the shore. The crew must have obtained a wonderful impression of the harbour, which, calm as a millpond, was bathed in brilliant sunshine. The harbour was dotted with a wonderful array of craft of all kinds, down to little canvas canoes. Just before the Centaurus was sighted, there was excitement on the waterfront owing to fire breaking out in pine logs near the moorings of the