FINE SPECTACLE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22694, 5 April 1937, Page 11

FINE SPECTACLE

PERFECT TAKE-OFF SWEEP DOWN CHANNEL f " " SILVER CRAFT IN THE SKY CROWDS- WATCH DEPARTURE Predictions that the early morning departure of the Pan-American .Clipper would provide a fine spectacle were amply fulfilled. Even after the disappointment of Saturday,' thousands gathered on the ■waterfront before dawn and saw the giant silver craft sweep from the water in Rangitoto Channel, circle the city like a huge iridescent dragonfly, and then speed northward into the clouds over the Hauraki Gulf. There was no great activity on the Clipper while she lay at her moorings in Mechancis'' Bay during Saturday. Everything had been placed in readiness on Friday, but it was necessary to replenish the tanks in order to make lip the fuel consumed when the Clipper was taxi-ing in the harbour before dawn on Saturday. * An indication of the heavy fuel consumption of these flyingboats was provided by the fact that approximately 100 gallons of special petrol had to be taken on board on Saturday, to make up the deficiency. The Clipper was brought in to the mooringbarge to be refuelled, but apart from that only a cursory check of the engines and equipment had to be made. , Crowds on Waterfront Crowds began to arrive' at the waterfront at Mechanics' Bay before midnight, and as the hours passed there was a constant ■ stream of cars, necessitating the posting of several traffic officers to direct parking. Many of the spectators arriyed in evening dress, and It was obvious that cabaret parties had - been carried oil cheerfully so that their members .could fill in time before the Clipper's departure. There was a medley of radio music from motor-cars, and occasional groups were gathered round young //men with guitars and banjos, to compete in song. The Clipper had been shifted from ithe landing barge in the afternoon, and lying at, her moorings some distance off the shore. Flood-lights from the Harbour Board enclosure showed up her graceful lines, as she rocked gently on the water. Members of the crew started to arrive by car shortly 'after 2.30, and in twos and threes were ferried out in 'a dinghy to the Clipper. Runway Prepared One of the .first to embark was Captain Edwin C. Musick, commander of the Clipper, who had a few brief words with officials and others before putting off to make his final inspection of the ' craft. Mr. Harold Catty, New Zealand representative, of Pan-American Airways, chatted for several minutes with friends before he too was rowed out to the flying-boat to make the trip back to the United States. _ Earlier in the evening, the tour dinghies with hurricane-lamps mounted 'On temporary masts, which were to be used to mark the line of the runway, had been placed in position in Rangitoto Channel. However, nothing was left to chance. There was a .slight change in the wind shortly atter midnight, and the line of boats was shifted in consequence. In their final Position the lighted dinghies were in a jino at intervals of 500 yards, marking a runway roughly in the direction from Kangitoto Beacon to Bean Hock. Clipper Leaves Moorings The decision,,to make tlic flight yesterday morning was reached early on Saturday evening; when a weather- I map covering the route to I'ago Pago j bad been completed. This indicated that j reasonable weather conditions were | likely to be experienced and subse-j Quent reports before the Clipper's de- j part lire continued this. j Shortly after, three o'clock, a launch i "nil a dinghy fussed i'p under the hulk j of the living-boat, and by the glaio j of strong lights slipped the craft from j her moorings, A few minutes later the j thousands on the reclamation saw the j three-bladed screw of the _ outboard j starboard motor jerk into activity. Soon , * the three other propellers were turning - over, and then the Clipper, swinging out from the bay, followed her pilot launch down the harhpur. As she moved off, her whole grey length was silvered hy the radiancfe of the flood-lights, and ® cheer rose from the crowd.

Speedily the Clipper swept down the harbour in the wake of her pilot launch. All that could be seen were the red and green dots of riding-lights, showing* up against the waterfront lights of Devonport. Within a few minutes she had swung round into Rangitoto Channel, and then, from the track of the lights, she appeared to taxi down the greater length of the runway, toward Rangitoto Beacon. The Clipper was now out of sight of the crowd on the reclamation, and there was a general rush of cars down the waterfront road. Probably the best view of the take-off was obtained from Orakei. The Clipper's lights could be seen as pin-points in the distance, and the bright spotlight of the pilot launch cut a swathe over the water as she sped along the line of dinghies to inspect the runway. A few minutes after four o clock a green Verey light was fired from the pilot launch. In the distance the navigation lights on the wings of the Clipper could be seen to swing round, and an answering green flare from the cockpit revealed the flying-boat s position. . Seagulls were quarrelling noisily round the Orakei Wharf, but suddenly the roar of the Clipper's engines, coming across five miles of water, broke through their strident voices. The lights of the Clipper could be seen to move down the runway, gathering speed almost incredibly, and then the giant craft was off—a series of lights showing up against the dull mass of Rangitoto. The Clipper turned. Quite clearly four points of purple flame showed up from her engines as she came toward Orakei on a roaring right-hand curve. The drone of her motors obliterated all other sound, and, with the moon shining,dimly through a break in the clouds, she turned toward the city, golden lights from her port-holes breaking the ghostly silver of her hull. Gradually the Clipper gained height. She circled over the city and the triumphant symphony of power and speed drew many to windows and balconies to see her pass. Banking gently to the right and at a height of about 1500 ft., she swept through the sky in the direction of Devonport, streamers of flame showing from' her exhausts. Then she turned again, and all that could be seen was the line of lights and exhaust flames, growing fainter and fainter, until in less than five minutes they disappeared into the j cloudy darkness. ;