ACROSS THE TASMAN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20290, 24 December 1927, Page 12

ACROSS THE TASMAN.

NEW ZEALANDERS’ VENTURE. PLANS FOR THE FLIGHT. (Per United Press Association.) DANNEVIRKE, December 23. Two New Zealand airmen. Lieutenant J. R. Moncrieff, of Wellington, and Captain G. Hood, of Masterton, quietly left Wellington by th e Maunganui on December 9 with the object of flying the Tasman Sea. Both men are approved by the director of air service as qualified pilots. They were accompanied by Captain I. L. Knight, of Dannevirke, who has been closely associated, with the scheme and was largely responsible for its initiation. The money for the venture has been privately subscribed throughout New Zealand, Mr J. M'Crorie, of Dunedin, an uncle of Lieutenant Moncrieff, being the principal backer. The machine, which has been landed at Melbourne, is similar to the one in which Lindbergh flew the Atlantic, and has been furnished by Mr Ryan, of the Air Line, U.S.A. It is equipped with a Wright Whirlwind J 5 engine, and carries 200 gal. lons of gasoline. The distance across the Tasman is estimated at 1430 land miles, and it is _estimated that the flight will be accomplished in 14 hours, although the men will have cruising power for 20 hours. The ’plane carries a rubber raft, earth-inductor compass, and wireless. The Australian Government has promised every assistance to licensed pilots in aircraft authorised by New Zealand, this assurance . having been obtained through the New Zealand Government from Mr Stanley Bruce at the initiation of the scheme. A trial flight will be made from Melbourne to Sydney, and the aviators propose to hop off for New Zealand as soon as the meteorological conditions are favourable. Mr A. M’Nicol, managing editor of the Dannevirke Evening News, and Mr R. J. Macdonald, a well-known Hawke s sheep farmer, are the trustees of the fund, and they have been responsible for the business arrangements.