LOG OF THE FLIGHT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20602, 28 June 1930, Page 13

LOG OF THE FLIGHT.

SPLENDID WIRELESS SET.

ENCOUNTER WITH FOG.

UNWILLING LANDING MADE.

By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright,

(Received Juno 27, 7.15 p.m.) STEW YORK. June 26.

Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith's official log of the flight of tho Southern Cross is as follows:

Dublin to New York, June 23, 1930. Took off in about 3500 ft. Climbed slowly, turned back over land on course No. 5. Rain- and low clouds. Bumps, but look ing better ahead. 5.30 a.m.: Rain easing off with patches of sunlight, and a oeautiful rainbow forming a complete circle.

6 a.m.: Weather O.K. In sight of the Irish coast. Revolutions 1760, speed 100. altitude 600 ft. 6.30 a.m.: Headwinds very strong. Gal way Bay to right. 7 a.m. • Out of sight, of land and really on the way. More rain squalls and headwinds. 7.30 a.m.: Strong westerly, all confident.

3 a.m.: Westerly very strong. Ground speed reduced to 70 miles. Just passed trawlers. 8.30 a.m.: Fairly clear, west erly still blowing like blazes. 9 a.m.: No change. Radio doing marvels. Gives, one a nice feeling of not being alone. 9.30 a.m.: Remarkably clear, wind seems diminished.

10 a.m.: Weather beautiful. Now seems to be rain ahead. 10.30 a.m.: Cold and very much overcast. Revolutions 1675, speed ICO, altitude 4CO. 11 a.m.: Changed ship's time to 9 a.m., but will keep log by eastern Atlantic time. 1 p.m. Old bus simply splendid. Quite up to usual form. She must miss Charles Ulm. 2.45 p.m.: Low clouds and bad visibility. 4.30 p.m.: Last hour been 50ft. above waves. Wish the darn mist would lift. 4.45 p.m.: Still skimming the surface. Thoroughly tired of it. b p.m.: Everything wonderful. Will know before long just how far into United States territory we will manage to get. 10.30 p.m.: On edge of Grand Bank. 11 p.m.: Still foggy to water. 1 a.m.: Still above fog. Smooth and stilL 10 a.m.: Greatly disappointed landing at Harbour Grace necessary. However, will fill up there and go oil same day if possible. 11 a.m.: .Just about to come tlirough the clouds to Harbour Grace. EAST TO WEST ROUTE. IMPOSSIBLE FOR FLYING. OPINION OF PILOT. (Received Juno 27, 5.15 p-m. 1 ! NEW YORK. Juno 2G. In reply to tiio question whether there would be a real east to west transatlantic aeroplane route from Europe to America, Mr. Van Dyk, second pilot of the Southern Cross, replied: " No, never. That is impossible, with strong headwinds all the way, and log, fog, fog. Perhaps there may be a southern route by the Azores, but by the north, no, no, no! Blind Hying is no fun." Colonel Ifitzmaurice, who crossed from cast to west in the German aeroplane Bremen, said: "We had the same experience of blind flying around Labrador. It is the result of a local condition prevalent there, as well as at Newfoundland, and is due to the fact that the isogenic lines all converge toward Newfoundland, with the result that you get big changes of magnetic variations in short distances making it impossible to effect proper corrections for tiic difference between the true north and the magnetic north." Isogenic lines is a term applied to linos on a map connecting points of the earth's surface where the magnetic declination, or variation from the true north, is the same. MESSAGE FROM SMITH. GREAT FEAT ENDING. AN AUSTRALIAN UNDERTAKING. (Received June 27, 5.1.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, Juno 2G. Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith sent thu following message to Australia: " I

am delighted that with my companions I have at last been able to complete the undertaking which, having been begun on American territory, had its significant half-way mark in Australia and is to be completed here, namely, the Southern Cross flight around the world. To the Australians who so keenly shared with me the hazards and the fortunate moments in this and previous liights I can only express my gratitude as to fellow countrymen."

In anticipation of the necessity for Squadron-Leader Kingston! Smith to land in Newfoundland, the Vaccum Oil Company made supplies of petrol and oil available and lilie Southern Cross was to continue its Hight to New York on these products.