THE TASMAN FLIGHT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20084, 23 October 1928, Page 12

THE TASMAN FLIGHT.

THRILLS AT THE FINISH.

LITCHFIELD AND McWILLIAM

YOUNG LADY SPREADS A FEAST. [from our own correspondent.] SYDNEY, Oct. 18. Sydney is proud of the demonstrative qualities of us people, but oven Sydney was surprised to learn that there were 25,000 people at tho aerodrome at 2.15 a.m. to welcome the Southern Cross on its belated arrival from New Zealand. Seeing that Richmond is nearly 40 miles from iho city Lhis makes the attendance nil the more remarkable. Thousands of New Zealanders heard flic voices of "Smithy" and Ulm, and they must have wondered what happened to the navigator, Litchfield, and, most of all, why they were not given Ihe privilege of hearing their own countryman, McWilliam, who hud provt d himself an ideal wireless operator in difficult, circumstances. These two men disappeared most mysteriously, and it was not ascertained until the following day what had become of them. Among the crowd was Litchfield's fiancee who had been waiting since five o'clock in an enclosed car. She had a feast waiting for her lover and she insisted upon McWilliam sharing it, and by some means she "spirited" both men away from the crowd. It was a wonderful feat. The engagement of Miss Rena lloldsworth to Mr. Litchfield was announced just before the Southern Cross left tor New Zealand. And Miss Holdsworth cannot tell anybody how thrilled she was when the machine landed. Empire Possibilities. Mr. Ulm seems to have a wider outlook than most of tho others who have discussed the I'asman flight,s. He says he is perfectly convinced that with the right type of machine—one able to climb high and ge' above weather troubles—a regular service between Australia and New Zealand can be maintained, quite independently of weather conditions. This is by way of an wer to those who have found fault with the practical value of the achievements of the Southern Cross, and who have pointed out that the flight depended soieh on (he weather. "There is no reason why aircraft should not reduce the time <ieiween London and New Zealand, through Australia, by two weeks," said Mr Ulm. "Nor is there any reason whj tho greater part of tho big Empire's communications should not be regularly maintained liy air. "Our (lights have great technical benefit foi any future scheme for a regular service across the Tasman. [ must admit that a suitable machine, able to face all weathers over a long distance, lias not yet been evolved, but it doubtless will be developed. It must be able to climb clean over any threatening storm. That is one of the needs which our (lights have emphasised." A Badiy-lighted Aerodrome.

Among the many lessons of the flight is (he need for the efficient lighting of the principal aevodromo to enable landings to be made safely at night should this be, necessary. There wero no permanent facilities at the Richmond aerodrome, alio it seemed as though some great calamity had occurred when it was announced over the air late on Saturday night that tho improvised system had failed. The reason for this failure has not been made public. As it turned out tho one floodli ;lit, together with tho flares, was sufficient to guide Kingsford Smith to safety. He says that lie could not see the crowd and his great fear was that the people would rush (he machine before (he engines had stopped.

After telling of (he provisions in America, where there are beacons every 1.5 miles along an air route, Kingsford Smith said that, night flying could not bo carried out m Australia until proper facilities were provided. Even if (here was no immediate prospect of night flying provision should be made to meet an emergency such as (hat which arose when tho Southern Cross was late in landing. No More Ocean Flights Yet.

Discussing the suggestion that they next might try their hand at crossing the Indian Ocean from Australia to South Africa, Kingsford Smith shook his head. "At, i. matter of fact," ho said, "we don't want to talk of ocean flights for some time. Theoretically, I don't believe in making them with land machines, but the Southern Cross was (ho only plane we could get at the time, and we started oil in that.

"A flight across tho Indian Ocean would have to be made in a flying boat or an amphibian. Tho flight could not bo made in one hop, and the routes available are via St. Paul's and Amsterdam Islands or the Cocos Islands and Mauritius. So far as wo know there is no landing ground at any of these places. No, this business of (lying over oceans in land machines is not. the tiling. The new all-metal flying bouts can float with safety ori tho wafer in a forty-mile gale and can fake off from a six-foot sea." Kingsford Smith says lie is satisfied (hat (he Tasman can be as rough as any sea lie has ever seen, and he was thankful that he did not have to make n forced landing upon it. At no time, however, wee: 'lie conditions too bad for the class of fiving-hont he referred 10.