PROGRESS OF JOURNEY.

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

PROGRESS OF JOURNEY.

REPORTS BY WIRELESS. ENGINES FUNCTION WELL. HAZY FOG AT SUNSET. Australian Press Association—United Service (Received June 1, 5,25 p.m.) SAN FRANCISCO. June 1. The monoplane Southern Cross was in almost constant "communication with the wireless stations at San Francisco until nightfall yesterday. After the plane had passed over the Golden Gate the first message from the crew reported that the weather was perfect and the motors were working splendidly. At 11.15 a.m. the airmen sent word that they were flying at an altitude of 2000 ft. and all was well. The speed was not given, but it was estimated that the plane was then 190 miles or more from Oakland. The engines continued to function perfectly and the fliers were in the best of spirits. Then the San Francisco Herald-Exam-iner picked up a message saying the wireless generator on (lie plane was not working properly. How /er, an hour later the Radio Corporation received a message which came through clearly, saying the generator had been repaired. At 12.30 p.m. a message from he Southern Cross indicated that she had covered more than 300 miles and that she was flying perfectly. Plane Slightly Off Her Course. The next message, timed 1.25 p.m., reported that the plane was Hying at an altitude of 2500 ft., at an average speed of 80 miles an hour. Mr. Ulm had rciievcu Captain Smith twice for brief periods and would soon take his first long shift at the controls. The sky was then cloudy, but clear in parts. The clouds along the water did not allow the airmen to see very far ahead. The airmen had communicated with the steamer Wilhelmina in order to ascertain their position. They were slightly off 'their course, 4QO miles out. The conditions were favourable. Early in the evening they announced that they had lost touch with the radio beacon at Crissey Field, but expected to pick it up again soon. The machine was then averaging 85 miles an hour. A later message said the visibility had improved. The airmen felt as though they were sitting on top of the world, lheir speed was 80 miles an hour and their altitude 1200 ft. The sea was smooth. Watching Ocean Bores Navigator. At 6.30 p.m. it was estimated from the messages received from various sources that the Southern Cross was 900 miles out.. When tne plane was nearing the spot where Erwin and Eichwald met with a fatal tail-spin last autumn a message said Captain Lyon was sitting in the bottom of the cockpit playing solitaire, as he was bored by watching the ocean. Later another message said: We came down to an altitude of 1200 ft. in order to avoid the clouds. The engines are still working like a clock. '1 he sun is going down and we are bothered by a haze, although there is a full moon above the fog. The wireless station KGI, Honolulu, received a message saying: Wo are flying at a height of 1100 ft. It is hazy and the sun is going down. It will soon be night and that will not be so good.