PETROL GIVES OUT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16914, 1 April 1929, Page 7

PETROL GIVES OUT

SOUTHERN CROSS' MISHAP PLANE FORCED TO LAND CREW AND MACHINE SAFE. ililec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.i (Received April 1, 11 a.m.) .SYDNEY, April 1. Intense anxiety \vu s felt throughout Australia yesterday at the news that the Southern Cross had made a forced landing in rough country some 200 miles from Wyndham. Until a late hour last night anxiety had not heen relieved, but a message received early this morning advised that the mishap was not of a serious nature.

The piano was given a rousing sendoff from Sydney, being accompanied as it made off in a north-westerly direction by Air Force machines. Wireless contact with the machine was maintained during the Might, but signals ceased at about 3 o'clock yesterday morning, and nothing more was heard until at 12.30 .in., when tho plane advised that pet ml was running low, and that it would be necessary to come down. At one time the Southern Cross was not able to give its position, but it was estimated to be about 150 miles from Wyndham. She was then about two hours overdue, but no anxiety had been occasioned on this score until the alarming information was received than the plane had insufficient petrol to finish the journey.

Latest advices show that the Southern Cross was forced down 200 miles from its objective, owing to the petrol supply giving out. file country in the district is densely wooded and hilly, but a landing was safely effected in the vicinity of Drysdale mission station. The crew and machine are safe, but it is expected that it will be Wednesday or Thursday before petrol supplies reach the plane.

The distance from Richmond aerodrome to Wyndham is 18C0 miles. The next hop was to he from Wyndham to Singapore, 2030 miles. The aviators had planned to complete the trip to England in 13 days, beating Hinkler's record of 10 days. With a breezy "cheerio" from the aviators the Southern Cross departed from Richmond aerodrome at 10.48 a.m. on Saturday. Before they left ('apt. Kingsford Smith and Lieut. l r lm broadcast two messages which were recorded for the gramophone. Kingsford Smith said: "We have two or three minutes before we take off. It is fine to see so many good folk here, and when we are really up in the air it will be something to think about. If the Southern Cross behaves as she did on her last flight we will win through. We arc not out to break records, but our trip is an endeavor to link up Australia and Europe by an air course. Cheerio and many thanks for such a wonderful send-off." Lieut. Dim also spoke on similar lines. At 3.40 ii.ii). on Saturday it_wns reported that the plane was travelling at a height, of loOOft., at a speed of 89 knots, and that it was passing over the Darling River. The sun was shining through the clouds, and the wind was with the plane, increasing its ground speed. At 5.30 p.m. (8 p.m. New Zealand time), the Sydney radio station 2BL broadcasted the wireless signals from the plane, the familiar hum of the generator propeller and the staccato itorse message being plainly heard by New Zealand listeners who happened to have tuned in to that station.