THE RETURN JOURNEY

Southland Times, Issue 20616, 15 October 1928, Page 4

THE RETURN JOURNEY

A slender margin of three gallons remained when the Southern Cross landed in Australia. The airmen were compelled to battle against adverse winds and weather condit ions generally which were much worse than those encountered at any stage of their long journeys since they left the United States. Undoubtedly the conditions were worse than the airmen anticipated, but their triumph over them makes the achievement all the more remarkable. The Southern Cross’s flights to and from New Zealand were made after preparations which left as little to chance as possible, and they demonstrated how accurately a machine flying over wide stretches of the ocean can be navigated with modern equipment, but the long delays and the small quantity of petrol left in the aeroplane’s tanks are enough to remind the public that the days of the regular aeroplane service between Australia and New Zealand are still far distant. No man anxious to reach Australia in a hurry would wish to depend on an aeroplane service. The Southern Cross may not be the last word in aeroplanes, but she is sufficiently up-to-date to make her achievements typical of the heavier than air machines of to-day. The aeroplane is not yet able to ignore weather adversities which do not interrupt steamship timetables. Of course, the developments of recent years convince one that these weaknesses are not incurable, but the day of the regular transocean service by aeroplane is still some distance off. In fact, it looks as if the airship will arrive first as the true competitor of the liner ploughing the ocean’s waters.