STORY OF FLIGHT

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

STORY OF FLIGHT

UNEVENTFUL JOURNEY TRIP AT HIGH ALTITUDE FINE WEATHER GENERAL Constant, communication between the north-bound survey Clipper and the temporary headquarters of Pan-Ameri-can Airways in Auckland was maintained yesterday by radio, and the reports received from the flying-boat at regular intervals gave a complete and detailed picture of an uneventful flight. Messages sent by the operator on the Sikorsky referred only to routine matters, such as weather, altitude, course and speed, with occasional mention of some lonely island passed. From the take-off at 4.17 a.m., NewZealand time, to the landing at Pago Pago at 5.11 p.m., there was not a single event of note reported. Varying weather conditions were duly recorded, but for the most part good progress was made at about 9000 ft., between two layers of clouds. Showers Encountered A report received from the Clipper at six o'clock yesterday morning stated that the craft had flown 240 nautical miles, and was entering the predicted mild frontal area. Ground speed had decreased from 145 knots to 120 knots, and at 7000 ft. showers were encountered. The Clipper was probably being flown by instruments at this stage. Two and a-lialf hours later, when 570 nautical miles had been covered, the ground speed was still 120 knots, and conditions were cloudy, with altocumulus clouds at 12,000 ft. and cumulus clouds below, with their tops at 6000 ft. Visibility was fair. The 180 th meridian was crossed at 10.35 a.m., and the Clipper had passed from Sunday back to Saturday. By noon she was 720 nautical miles along her course, the position being determined by sunline. The ground speed had fallen to 100 knots, and the velocity of the wind was 30 knots. At 9500 ft. the Clipper was only 500 ft. above cumulus clouds, and there was another layer of cloud above her. More Favourable Wind The speed rose to 125 knots about an hour later, as a result of the wind decreasing to 12 knots, and shifting to a more favourable quarter. The Clipper passed over Eua Island, in the Tongan Group, at one o'clock in the afternoon, flying at 9000 ft. She was cruising at a ground speed of 130 knots, 2000 ft. above the tops of cumulus clouds, and in good visibility. Only 225 nautical miles remained to bo covered at three o'clock. The ground speed was 145 knots, and the craft was at Ssooft., well above cumulus clouds. She landed at Pago Pago at 5.11 o'clock yesterday afternoon, and docked eight minutes later. NO RISKS TAKEN EVENTS ON SATURDAY REASONS FOR POSTPONEMENT Although the -failure of the PanAmerican Clipper to leave for Pago Pago on Saturday morning as originally planned was a disappointment to the thousands who had gathered on the waterfront to see her go, it provided proof of the extreme care which is insisted upon in modern commercial aviation. Pail-American Airways have built up their reputation on the safety which comes from a refusal to take risks, and its traditions in this respect were fully maintained on Saturday when Captain Musick decided to postpone the Clipper's departure. Some hours before dawn on Saturday everything was in readiness for the take-off. The lighted dinghies were placed in line down the harbour to mark the runway, and, in the glare of floodlights, thousands of spectators watched members of the crew walk down the gangway to the landing barge and board the Clipper. Shortly before four o'clock the flying-boat moved off from the barge, and, preceded by her pilot launch, taxied down the harbour past the eastern tide deflector to commence her take-off toward the city. Just* as the pilot launch swept back along the runway a heavy rain squall came down over the harbour. Twice green Vcrev lights were fired from the launch to signal that the runway was clear, but no answering light came from the Clipper. Finally, a red Verey light from the launch showed that she was no longer standing by and after a further period of waiting the livingboat came slowly back to her moorings. It was learned afterward that the rain squall had reduced visibility from the Clipper to such an extent that Captain Musick was unable to pick up the line of lights marking the runway. He waited for the rain to lift, but by that time the wind had changed and to have taken off on the- runway then prepared would have introduced an element of risk. Some time would have been necessary to lay out a new* runway and this would have entailed a departure at least two hours behind schedule. As it was necessary to make a daylight landing at Pago Pago, Captain Musick decided that essential time had been lost and the departure was postponed. The Clipper remained at her moorings until daylight and was then brought in to the landing barge. Members of the crew came ashore to obtain a few hours' sleep, and Mr, Harold Gattv was able to meet the Mariposa on arrival from Sydney and welcome his three sons. Earlier he thought he would miss seeing them by a matter of a few hours.