TASMAN FLIGHT DEFINITE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17871, 30 August 1932, Page 4

TASMAN FLIGHT DEFINITE

PLANS OF KINGSFORD SMITH NEW PLYMOUTH ARRANGEMENT A cable message from Air-Commodore Sir Charles ivjngstord Smith stating Mat his trans-Tasman flight will definitely take place has been received by tne secretary of tne New Plymouth Aero Ciub, Mr. 8. E. Nielson. At the annual meeting of the New Plymouth Aero Club Mr. Nielson gave in detail the arrangements for tho flight made during bis visit to Wellington last week. Complete arrangements were made by him with Mr. Stannage, who is to accompany Sir Charles on the flight as wireless operator, to keep in toueli with tiie Southern Cross during the flight, Mr. Nielson said. When lie was approached, Mr. Stannage said the Southern Cross would not be able to receive wireless messages while the engines were running, nut lie would be able to transmit and would -do so throughout the flight. If the Southern Cross wanted to receive messages the only way would be for the plane to be taken to a great altitude and for the engines to be shut off, allowing the inachine*to glide. Then messages .would have to be received as quickly as possible. The interference with reception was not caused by the engines, however, but by the magnetos. Reception would be attempted only in a case of the utmost urgency. As far as the New Plymouth end was concerned, Mr. Nielson explained, arrangements had been made to have a set installed at the aerodrome, with which the dub would lie able to keep in touch with the Southern-Gross. Notification was also received from the Broadcasting Board that if advice were given two hours before the flight was begun all New Zealand stations would transmit throughout tho flight. Arrangements would be made with the Richmond wireless station, the Australian Air Force station, to send a message to New Zealand two iiours before the departure of the Southern Cross from Sydney. Squadron-Leader Wilkes was also interviewed at Wellington, and stated ho would visit New Plymouth to inspect the landing ground before the flight was made. The Defence Department would lend all the assistance possible, especially with a powerful searchlight, which would be so strong that only one would be required. An engineer would be sent to operate the searchlight. A suggestion was made to him at Wellington, Mr. Nielson said, for the care of the aeroplane while it was at the aerodrome. It was proposed that on the south side of the hangar there should be a horseshoe-shared enclosure into which the plane could be taxied and enclosed with pickets. A race sufficiently wide to accommodate four people abreast could be run round the horseshoe so that every visitor would be able to walk right round and obtain a good view of the aeroplane.