TASMAN FLIGHT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21359, 7 December 1932, Page 8

TASMAN FLIGHT

SIR /C. KING.SFORD SMITH PLANS ALMOST COMPLETE QUESTION OF MEDICAL FITNESS I [from, our own correspondent] SYDNEY. Dec. 1 The famous airnjan Sir Charles Kingsford Smith lias practically completed plans i for his second flight across tho lasman Sea from Australia to New Zealand, on i I January 14, in his world-famous Southern r Cross. All that remains is for him to | satisfy the civil aviation authorities that ! his health will stand the strain of another ocean flight, i Since he was gassed during his last flight to England Sir Charles has not been ! i4i tho same robust health as formerly, and now he is the holder of only a conditional pilot's certificate. He will have to pass- a very stiff medical examination before he will be given permission by tho authorities to undertake his second Tasman flight. He is striving all the time to get thoroughly fit, and has been under expert care for some months, but it is by ! i 2io means certain that ho will be able to ! comply with all the requirements associated with the granting of a first-class medical pass. Nothing Left to Chance Be that as it may, Sir Charles is not going to be caught napping should he get through. He is leaving nothing to chance either before or during the flight, and his arrangements to date have been most elaborate. He has always exercised every precaution before taking the air, and this probably accounts for the fact that lie lias been in but very few crashes. He certainly holds the confidence of the people of Australia, and there is scarcely anyone who would not be willing to fly while he was in the cockpit. Tliis accounts for the success that has attended his joy-riding ventures in many parts of the ,country, and especially :in Sydney. It is said that by this means lie is making a small fortune. Last week-end, for instance, he visited a country town in New South Wales, and it is said that bis takings exceeded £IOO. Before he received his knighthood he had rather a lean time, but since then he has not looked back. Scores of people, it would seem, are only too willing to take the air With a knight. Safety of Flying There is no pretence about Sir Charles. He is quite frarikf in admitting that flying is his living, but he also believes that the safe flying which he is able to offer is of great Value to aviation generally, and a powerful factor in making the people more airmilided than they are. He 7 has always emphasised the fact that ordinary flying is perfectly safe, and it must be admitted that he has proved his words. He hopes that his visit to New Zealand .will provide a great fillip for aviation ' there. He intends to remain in the Dominion for about a month, and he will visit as many towns as possible and will offer rides in tho Southern Cross. When the .Southern Cross leaves Australia it will carry 650 gallons of benzine, 1 and the huge weight made it necessary to select ? a suitable starting point. The Mascot aerodrome in Sydney did not come up to requirements, so he has selected the Gerrigong Beach, a wonderful expanse of sand, about 80 miles south of Sydney. Gerrigong Beach has another interest for New Zealanders, for it was there that Mr. Norman Smith made his first attempt on the land speed record of the world. The beach provides a remarkably long runway of hard sand, and Sir Charles says that he will have no difficulty in making the Southern Cross rise from it, even though .the load will be an exceptionally heavy ' one. Landing at New Plymouth The machine will proceed across the Tasman in practically a straight line, for it will head direct for Mount Egmont, which provides such a splendid landmark. Sir Charles plans to make his first landing in New Zealand at New Plymouth. The itinerary in the Dominion has not yet been decided. It is most unlikely that the Southern Cross will be flown back over the Tasman. Sir Charles doubts whether he would be able to find an aerodrome suitable for a take-off in such a big machine carrying a very heavy load. Even if that;difficulty could be overcome he is afraid'/that at the end of his tour the weather would be so uncertain that it might not bo safe to venture out across the ocean. He will be guided in making a final decision with the facts as they are at the end of his tour. When one -speaks of "the old Southern Cross," one is inclined to overlook the fact, that actually there is very little of the' original machine remaining. As a matter of fact the rudder and the tail plane alone, if they could speak, could tell of the many adventures of the machine. The Southern Cross has been practically rebuilt at Cockatoo Island, in Sydney, and it the proud boast of the owner that it is now as good as ever it was. Use of Original Engines Not long ago three new engines were installed, but for the New Zealand flight the original Wright Whirlwind radial motors will do service. These, too, have ! been rebuilt, and are good now for many more flights. They are the engines which carried the Southern Cross on its famous flight from America across the Pacific—an almost forgotten achievement —and later from Australia to England. They have been wonderful engines. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith's co-pilot /bn the Tasman flight will be Captain P. CJ. Taylor, a wealthy man, who lives in Sydney and makes flying his hobby. He has an excellent reputation as a flier, and is a man to be depended upon in the air. The other occupant of the plane will be Mr. F. W. Stamiage, radio expert. It is of special interest to note that the Southern Cross will carry a transmitting as well as a receiving set, and it is being arranged that a full description of the flight shall be broadcast in New Zealand and Australia during its progress. If this is successful it will be a remarkable achievement, and will increase tenfold the public interest in the venture.