PACIFIC FLIGHT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21935, 19 October 1934, Page 11

PACIFIC FLIGHT

KINGSFORD SMITH TESTS OF THE MACHINE DEPARTURE TO-MORROW BRISBANE TO SUVA THENCE TO HONOLULU h By Telegraph—Pressi Association —Copyright (Received October 13. S.o p.m.) SYDNF.Y, Oct. IS Sir Charles Kingsford Smith to-day finally tested his aeroplane Ladv Southern Cross in view of his coming flight to San Francisco. The airman will leave Sydney for Brisbane early to-morrow. From there he proposes to start on Saturday on the first hop to Suva. He stated today that every precaution is being taken to enable the machine to float in the event of a forced descent on to the sea. A message from Suva states that Sir Charles is expected to land there at 5 p.m. on Saturday. According to a despatch from Honolulu the United States Army authorities there are ready to co-operate with Sir Charles. The War Department has granted him permission to use the Wheeler field, where the runway has been lengthened since the airman s last Pacific flight. PLAN& OF THE FLIERS ARRANGEMENTS FOR FUEL FIRST LANDING AT SUVA One of the most adventurous flights ever conceived is that which Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and his copilot, Captain P. G. Taylor, propose to make from Brisbane to San Francisco. The journey has been accomplished only once previously by air, when the veteran monoplane Southern Cross, with Sir Charles as chief pilot, was flown southward to Australia. On the present occasion, however, the Lockheed Altair, Lady Southern Cross, the single-engined machine originally intended by Sir Charles for the Centenary air race, is to be used. The object of the trip is to take the monoplane to the United States for sale. Only two stops are planned, one at Naselai Beach, near Suva, and the other at Honolulu, in the course of the flight of 6326 nautical miles. The engineer who has accompanied Sir Charles on many previous flights, Mr. T. Pethybridge, passed through Auckland on board the Aoracgi this week on his. way to Suva with supplies of special fuel for the machine. The drums of fuel will be stored at Naselai Beach, from which the Southern Cross took off on the last hop of its great transpacific flight six years ago. Sir Charles will obtain adequate service at the Honolulu air base, without sending his own staff so far afield. When the Lady Southern Cross leaves Archerfield aerodrome, Brisbane, the 11 tanks will contain between them 520 gallons of fuel for the hop of 1750 miles, allowing an ample margin of safety. Before leaving Naselai Beach for Honolulu, however, Sir Charles will | have the tanks completely filled, givI ing a range of 4000 miles. Should I any defect make a forced landing necesi sary at sea, the fuel can be "dumped" I instantly, and the water-tight tanks j are expected to keep the machine | afloat for some time, in spite of the ! weight of the powerful engine. During the flight it is believed that there .will be several Pacific mail liners at various points along the route, and should the fliers see any of these they will circle overhead, firing Verey lights if the encounter takes place at night. Wireless transmitting and receiving sets will be carried. Landing lights are neatly faired into the wings of the machine, and these will be used in the unlikely event of arriving at Naselai Beach after dark. Sir Charles plans to leave Brisbane early in the morning, however, and expects to reach Naselai Beach between 4 p.m. and 5 p.nu Mr. Pethybridge and a staff of natives will be awaiting his arrival, and as soon as the tide has gone out far enough to leave a sufficiently wide expanse of beach for a safe landing, a white strip will be laid on the sands, as an indication to the pilots that they may come in. Before the Altair takes off for the second hop, to Honolulu, the petrol tanks will be filled to the brim, the sparking-plugs and oil changed, and attention will be given to any minor adjustments that may prove necessary. It is not known how long Sir Charles and Captain Taylor will remain at Naselai Beach, but 20 minutes before their departure the motor will be started and allowed to warm up. At the last minute the tanks will be "topped up" with fuel. In the course of the flight to Honolulu the airmen hope to be in touch with Mr. John Stannage, wireless operator on the Southern Cross on many great flights, wfio is a passenger on the Aorangi. northward bound. It j is hoped to accomplish the journey in | four days, or five at the outside.