AVIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20310, 19 January 1928, Page 9

AVIATION

THE ENDURANCE RECORD. CAPTAIN SMITH TAKES OFF. (Fret* Association—By Telegraph—Copyright) SAN FRANCISCO, January 17. Captain Kingsford Smith and Lieutenant Pond left Mills Field at 8.11 this morning in the Spirit of California in an attempt to break the endurance record. The ’plane carried 1532 gal of petrol and 32gal of oil. , The ’plane sped down the field tor nearly 5000 ft with the great weight of the fuel supply' before it took the air. The airmen are now carrying luUgal more petrol than on the previous attempt. Captain Smith stated that he and Lieutenant Pond would cruise about the San Francisco Bay district for the first few hours, possibly going as far south as San Jose, and later, as the petrol consumed lessened the ’plane’s weight, the pair would probably cruise inland as far as Sacramento and Stockton. As on the pi’evious flight they carried 20 sandwiches, hot soup, and coffee in thermos bottles, and condensed chocolate, also water enough to last for three days. They must remain in the air until Thursday afternoon in order to break the German record. —A. and N.Z. Cable. WEATHER CONDITIONS GOOD. MESSAGE FROM THE ’PLANE. SAN FRANCISCO. January 17. The total weight lifted by the ’plane was 15,7201 b, which is the heaviest taken into the air by any ’plane on the Pacific Coast. The weather was cold, but the atmospheric conditions were considered good. The three motors were warmed up for nearly an hour before the start. The heavy ship gained momentum slowly down the runway, and for a time it seemed that it would he unable to get off the ground, but finally it lifted, barely clearing a dyke at the end of the field. When the ’plane passed out of sight southward it had attained an altitude of a little over 100 ft. Before his departure Captain Smith said: “We are out to get the record this time. It is going to take some unexpected trouble with the motors to make us come down. The weather conditions are good, and the ’plane is in perfect shape. We have increased its gasolene capacity enough to carry just the margin of gasolene that will spell victory this time.” , A wireless message from the plane shortly before 11 o’clock stated that it had climbed to an altitude slightly more than 1000 ft, and that the motors were performing perfectly. It was declared that bumpy air pockets had previously been encountered, but the atmospheric conditions had -improved as the ’plane altitude. —A. and N.Z. Cable. FEARS FOR AVIATORS’ SAFETY. FAILURE OF THE RADIO. SAN FRANCISCO, January 17. Experts expressed apprehension for the safety of Captain Kingsford Smith and Lieutenant Pond at noon, when the radio failed. A forced landing is feared. —A. and N.Z. Cable. WIRELESS PICKED UP AGAIN. EVERYTHING GOING WELL. NEW YORK, January 17. Captain Kingsford Smith and Lieutenant Bond are safe. The hum of their wireless transmitter was picked up at 3 o’clock this afternoon. —A. and N.Z. Cable. THIRTEEN HOURS COMPLETED. ’PLANE WORKING PERFECTLY. SAN FRANCISCO, January 18. (Received Jan. 18, at 10 p.m.) Captain Smith has now been 13 hours in the air, and reports that the Southern Cross is -working perfectly.—A, and N.Z. Cable. In his previous attempt on the record Captain Smith remained aloft for 49i hours—nearly three hours short' of the 52hr 23min needed to create a new world’s record. He was forced down short of gas. Lieutenant Pond is in the American Naval Air Service. ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION. COMMANDER BYRD’S FLANS. NEW YORK, January 17. Commander Byrd announces that he will leave New York on his Antarctic ex pedition on September 10 aboard the ice ship Sampson, which he purchased in Norway. He is expected to return in June, 1929. —A. and N.Z. Cable.