AVIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22399, 22 October 1934, Page 7

AVIATION

THE PACIFIC FLIGHT FIRST HOP COMPLETED (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) BRISBANE, October 21. (Received Oct. 21, at 10 p.m.) Owing to reports that he would be likely to encounter head winds all the way to Suva, Sir Charles Kingsford Smith left at 4 a.m. instead of 6 a.m., as originally intended. Despite the darkness, the plane made a successful take off. There was a surprisingly large crowd to witness the departure considering the earliness of the' hour. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith wishes to reach Suva in daylight as at Albert Park aerodrome there is a very restricted ground. He expects the hop of 1760 miles to occupy 10 to 12 hours. "I don't know whert we will be back, but we won't be flying. I am flying the bus over to make the best deal with it I can to pay my backers," he said before leaving. ARRIVAL AT SUVA SUVA, October 21. (Received Oct. 21, at 9 p.m.) Sir Charles Kingsford Smith landed safely at Albert Park at dusk. He was sighted at 6.4 p.m. He circled twice and made a perfect landing. He will overhaul the machine to-morrow and leave from Naselai at 9 a.m. on Tuesday. The park was cleared of wires and fences, and the Government installed floodlights. Cars were arranged round the ground, and fiares were prepared, but they were not necessary. Sir Charles had to push the plane at 180 miles in order to arrive before dusk. HOUSES NARROWLY MISSED I SUVA, October 21. (Received Oct. 21, at 11 p.m.) Great anxiety was felt at Suva on account of the late arrival of the airmen. There were heavy clouds, and visibility was poor. In circling the ground for inspection, Sir Charles narrowly missed houses on the hill. He later stated that in suddenly turning the engine on he omitted to make allowance for the altitude of the hill. He paid a tribute to the navigator. He said he sighted the sun late in the afternoon. It was a poor sight; nevertheless, with dead. reckoning, he hit Fiji 20 miles from Suva. Taylor modestly replied: 'lt was by guess or by God." Sir Charles, replying, remarked: "It will do me." The aviator admitted that the landing ground was an emergency one only and was very restricted. "Fortunately every feature of it was indelibly impressed in my memory as the result of* a previous flight," said-Sir Charles. SPEEDWAY RIDER'S FLIGHT DELAYED BY FOG IN FRANCE LONDON, October 19. Stanley Jackson, fog-bound, landed at Compiegne (France)). He will continue his flight to Australia at the earliest possible moment. SEAPLANE FLIGHT RECORD ROME, October 19. The airman Mario Stoppani started at Monfalcone and landed at Eritrea, covering 2900 miles, exceeding by 500 miles the previous non-stop straight line seaplane flight record.