SOUTHERN CROSS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 17 February 1933, Page 7

SOUTHERN CROSS

RECONSTRUCTION WORK TEST FLIGHT NEXT WEEK it is expected that Sir Charles Kingsford Smith will resume passenger flying in the Southern Cross, which is at present undergoing repairs at Palmerston North on Saturday, 25th February. Mr Wilfrid Smith, who has been on a holiday visit to Auckland arrived at Wellington yesterday, and he told a ‘•Post” representative that he called at Palmerston North on his way to Wellington to ascertain what progress was being made with the repair work to the machine, and ho could definitely say that the Southern Cross would be ready for a test flight on Friday, 4th February. Passenger flights would he conducted in Palmerston North liv Sir Charles, who was expected to arrive in New Zealand next week from Australia on 25th and 2(ith February. He intended to visit Masterton on 27th February and Levin the following day, after which the South Island tour would begin. Mr Wilfred Smith, left for Christchurch by the ferry steamer to make arrangements and map out an itinerary for the southern tour.

The Southern Cross will .spend about a fortnight in the South Island, and it is expected that it will arrive at Wellington on Friday, 17th March. Provided ’here is a favourable southerly wind, Sir Charles will make passenger flights from the Rongotai Aerodrome on IStli and 19th March. Should there he no wind, it is doubtful whether the huge monoplane will he able to make llights. “Sir Charles is quite satisfied with Rongotai, and wishes to congratulate the City Council and the Wellington Aero Club for the amount of work they have done to the aerodrome to make it suitable for the Southern Cross to land,” said Air Smith.

AJr Smith said it was quite possible that Sir Charles would fly the Southern Cross hack to Australia, but he had to wait for definite advice from Dr Kidson, Dominion Meteorologist. At the. present Dr Kiilson was of the opinion that the weather would he favourable during the latter part of March, ••but he would he able to furnish a more definite report next month. If Sir Charles decided to fly hack he would take oil from the Ninety Mile Beach, which was fifty miles nearer to Australia than any other suitable taking-oil’ place in New Zealand. Letters suggesting suitable taking-off places had been received from many centres in the Dominion. but as every drop of petrol counted on the trip across the Tasman Sea, Sir Charles had to take off’ from the nearest point to Australia. In an endeavour to complete the repair work in the shortest possible time, three shifts of live men each have been working oil the machine. Apart from the damaged wing, there was no structural damage, and no trouble is anticipated when the machine takes the air for the test flight. Mr Smith said that Sir Charles’s plans when he returned to Australia were indefinite at present.