MORE THAN HALF-WAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19962, 2 June 1928, Page 11

MORE THAN HALF-WAY.

AIR POCKET ENCOUNTERED. NO ILL-EFFECT RESULTS. Australian Press Association —United Service (Received June 1, 8.5 p.m.) SAN FRANCISCO. June 1. The Mackay Radio Station received a message at 10 p.m. yesterday which stated that the Southern Cross had struck a downward current and lost her altitude. The message read: " W r e have hit an air pocket." It then stopped abruptly. The station announced at 11.12 p.m. that the wireless from the plane had " gone out." The operator said he could not determine whether the plane's set had purposely been disconnected. Her last position was given as 1100 miles out. Subsequently the station reported that the radio of the plane had come in again at 11.30 p.m.. but the operator had sent no message. The San Francisco ExaminerHerald announced at 11.40 p.m. that the plane was calling, but that interference prevented the receipt of her message. Messages received at 9.36 p.m. had indicated that the Southern Cross had passed the half-way point on the first stage of the flight. A despatch from Honolulu stated that preparations were in hand to greet the fliers early to-day. The Mackay station at Portland, Oregon, reported having picked up the plane's message about passing through an air pocket. It said the machine had to drop down from 4000 ft. in consequence. Apparently it suffered no ill-effects. At 12.45 a.m. to-day a message from the fliers reported that all was still well with ihem.