FLIGHT TO ENGLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20304, 11 July 1929, Page 11

FLIGHT TO ENGLAND.

THE SOUTHERN CROSS.

DUE CROYDON YESTERDAY.

LAST STACK HEUUN

KECOHD WITHIN If EACH.

NEAIiLY TWO DAYS AHEAD.

Australian Press Association Lnilcd Service (Received July 10, 11.35 p.m.) LONDON. July 10. A record flight from Australia to JMiglaud is on the eve of completion.

The monoplane Southern Cross, with Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith, MightLieutenant G. T. P. Ulin (copilots), Mr. If. A. Litchfield (navigator), and Mr. I. If. McWilliams (wireless operator), arrived at Rome front Athens yesterday at 2.35 p.m., iu continuation of the flight to England. The airmen left Rome at 4.55 a.m. today for Croydon, where they are expected at 2 p.m.

A message from the Italian capital says prominent people interested in aviation and motoring gave a luncheon to the airmen yesterday at the Littorio airport. In replying to the toast of their health Kingsford Smith said he had never seen a better equipped airport. They appreciated their reception, and would take an early opportunity of returning to Rome.

Kings ford Smith, in an interview, said he was delighted to find that the Southern Cross was nearly two days ahead of the fastest time for a (light between Australia and England. "We are tired hut we are fit," s;iid Smith, ''and I would do it all over again if it were necessary. However, if I had to repeat (he trip I would use a lighter machine than the Southern Cross. It is extremely heavy when it is fully loaded, weighing more than tons. "Tlie majority of the taking-off grounds on the route, if they are wet or sandy, will not carry that weight. Wo struck a hamhoo pole at Calcutta.which had been placed there by some stupid native when we were leaving."

MESSAGES FROM FLIERS

JOURNEY ACROSS FRANCE. Australinn Press Association—United Service (Received July 11, 1'J.55 a.m.) LONDON. July 10. Sir Sefton Drancker, Director of Civil Aviation, has gone to Croydon to assist in the reception to be given to the crew of the Southern Cross. The machine passed over Lyons soon after 10 a.m. Later Kingsford Smith sent a wireless message to tho Air Ministry saying: ''We are over Paris. All well. Expect to reach Croydon at 3 p.m." Then came the following: "We arc now heading up through France. It is fine arid clear here. We now expect to reach Croydon at 2.40 p.m."

If the Southern Cross airmen accomplish the flight from Australia to England at (ho hour expected they will have covered the journey in a few hours less than 14 days. The full distance flown will have been about 11.680 miles. Counting the time from Richmond, Sydney, it works out at just under 36 days, but they actually left (he Australian Continent (Derby) on June 27 and were due at Croydon on July 10. That period of under 14 days included stoppages of one day each at Rangoon and Karachi for repairs to the engines. Following are details of the flight of the Southern Cross:—

June 25.—Left Richmond, Sydney, for Derby, Western Australia, about 21C0

miles. June 26.—Arrived at Derby after flight

ol 22 hours 5 minutes. June 27.—1-eft Derby for Singapore,

about 2020 miles. June 28.—Arrived at Singapore. June 29.—Left Singapore and landed at Singora, Siam, about 458 miles. June 30.—Arrived at Rangoon, Burma, from Singora, about 690 miles. July 2.—Left Rangoon and arrived at Calcutta, about 660 miles. July 3.—Flew from Calcutta to Allahabad, about 460 miles. July 4.—Flew from Allahabad to Karachi, about 890 miles. July 6.—Left Karachi for Basra and Bagdad, Irak. July 7.—Arrived at Basra from Karachi, about 1350 miles, flew on to Bagdad, about 320 miles from Basra. July B.—Arrived at Athens from Bagdad, about I£Bo miles. July 9.—Arrived at Rome from Athens, about 600 miles. July 10.—Left, Rome for Croydon, about 850 miles. The previous record for a flight between the two countries was that, of Mr. Bert Dinkier, who flew from Croydon to Port Darwin in February, 1928, in days. His itinerary was as follows: — February 7.—Left Croydon. February 8- —Reached Rome. February 10.—Left Rome for Malta. February 12.—Arrival at Ramleli, Egypt, near Alexandria. February 13.—Reached Basra. February 15.—At Karachi (India) in one week. February 13.—Arrived Calcutta. February 19.—Left Singapore for Batavia. February 20.—Ai rival at Batavia. February 21.—Set out for Bima, Dutch East Indies. February 22.—Bima to Darwin, arrived at 6 p.m. The distance covered was 11,300 miles.