PACIFIC FLIGHT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22687, 27 March 1937, Page 12

PACIFIC FLIGHT

PROGRESS OF CLIPPER PAGO PAGO REACHED THIRD STAGE COMPLETED AWAITING FINER WEATHER The third stage of Ihe survey flight by the I'an-Aineriean Clipper frofn San Francisco to Auckland was completed on Thursday night, when the flying boat landed at Pago Pago from Kingman Reef. According to Mi. Harold Gatt-v, local representative of PanAtnerican Airways, weather conditions in the Southern Pacific are unfavourable for a daylight flight from Pago Pago to Auckland and the final stage of the journey is not likely to be attempted until early next week. A Press Association cablegram from New York gives an account of the Clipper's flight from Kingman Reef to Pago Pago, supplied in a copyright message to the North American Newspaper Alliance by Captain Edwin C. Musick, commander of the flying boat. "We made an easy landing on choppy waters in Pago Pago Harbour at 8.14 p.m.," Captain Musick says. " This was 10 hours 35 minutes after leaving Kingman l?eef. Navigation by Radio "Our average speed was nearly 150 statute miles an hour. This was too fast for exploration, but clouds, rain and an unbroken sea were the only sights on this stage. The Clipper was navigated mostly by our radio directionfinder. "Steady rainstorm warnings indicate a delay of a day or two at Pago Pago. A flight to Auckland would be useless in this weather, as we should not be able to study landmarks or the approaches to the myriad islands. "The excited official and native populations oi Pago Pago witnessed our arrival. We are waiting for the storm centre to pass and in the meanwhile we are surveying the harbour and familiarising ourselves with the air approaches which it is intended to use on the return trip. "We are guests at the Government Mansion. Mrs. Wallace Rcid visited us and said she had taken ;i moving picture film of our landing." Daylight Trip Planned Satisfaction with the progress of the survey flight to date was expressed vesterday by Mr. Gatty, who said it "did not appear that the Clipper would leave Pago Pago for Auckland until early next week. "There is some particularly dirty weather between Pago Pago and Auckland at present," he said, "and when the storm passes the indications are that there will be strong south-westerly winds for a couple of days. "As this is a survey flight, it is desirable that the final hop to Auckland should he made in daylight. The Clipper could certainly fly through the head-winds, which she would probably experience if she left at the week-end, but her speed would bo slowed down and it would be impossible to make the whole trip in daylight. The crew of the Clipper wants to make as many detailed observations as possible, and for that reason the flying-boat will remain at Pago Pago until the ' all clear' signal is given from this end. It is quite possible that the departure of the Clipper for Auckland will be made at short notice." Storm Misses Auckland Mr. Gatty added that the storm which was partly responsible for delaying the immediate progress of the Clipper had been expected to strike Auckland yesterday. However, from weather reports received, it appeared that tlu> cyclone had taken a more westerly course than that originally predicted". The weather in Auckland yesterday was unsettled, but it was far from being stormy. Toward evening tho wind freshened from tho north-east, but later moderated. Rain fell at intervals throughout the day, but there was no really heavy downpour. The barometer at midnight stood at 30.1 iii. and sliowec! a rising tendency.