TRANSTASMAN FLIGHT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20071, 8 October 1928, Page 8

TRANSTASMAN FLIGHT.

PROSPECTS NO BRIGHTER. AIRMEN CONTINUE TESTS. A B(JSY DAY AT BLENHEIM. MOTH ARRIVES FROM AUCKLAND [llY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] BLENHEIM, Sunday. There is no prospect of the Southern Cross leaving for Australia before Tuesday at the very earliest. Yesterday there was considerable aerial activity over Blenheim. In the morning the Southern Cross, with Squadron-Leader Kingnford Smith and Captain N. E. Chandler, the Marlborough Aero Club's pilot-instructor, at the controls, made a test flight over the town for the purpose ol! checking the instruments. The occupants of the .cabin were Messrs. T. H. McWilliam and H. A. Litchfield, Miss Muir, of Christchurch, and Mr. George Fairhall, one of the owners of the field which is being used as an aerodrome. The Southern Cross, with only a light load on board, took off after running less than 200 yds. across the paddock. Kingsford Smith took the machine away from t'fic smooth prepared runway in order to test :its lifting capacity. The flight occupied about a quarter-of-an-hour. After this flight, Lieutenant Ulm, who i;s undergoing the regular course in flying of the New Zealand Air Force, went up with Captain Buckley as instructor, and practised landing and taking off in a Bristol fighter. After further instruction in the afternoon, by Kingsford Smith, he flew the machine unaided for most of tho time, this being his first solo flight in a service machine. Ho handled it very well, and made many perfect landings. At 3.30 p.m. watchers at the aerodrome were taken by surprise when another 'aeroplane came in sight from the north. This proved to be Mr. Douglas Mill, of Auckland, in his Moth. He made ;v splendid flight from Auckland, after leaving the Northern city at 8.5 a.m., and spending an hour and three-quarters at Hawera. The conditions were not good, a head wind being encountered over the latter part of tho journey, while clouds and haze made the visibility very poor. Those who had seen the Southern Cross being taken from the hangar, with 25 m?n lifting the taTl, were amused at the contrast when the Moth was housed. . Mr. Mill lifted the tail with one hand, and ihe piano was soon parked under one of the wings of the Southern Cross. The fliers are spending a quiet and enjoyable holiday. They have been invited to visit various station homesteads, while the Souuds always appeal to them. The Marlborough Aero Club's fund for the purchase of a third Moth plane, which was opened on Tuesday, has met with such warm support that yesterday the executive decided that it was justified in cabling an order for the machine, which is to be delivered in the last week in December. A special concession in regard to the time of delivery has been made to the club at the instance of the Tasruan airmen. UNFAVOURABLE WEATJIEK. EARLY CHANGE UNLIKELY. REPORT OF METEOROLOGIST. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] WELLINGTON. Sunday. The Government meteorologist., Dr. Kid son, stated to-day that conditions were unfavourable for the flight. A very deep depression was situated over the western Tasman Sea. There was no likelihood of favourable conditions for several days to come.