IN TEN HOURS

Southland Times, Issue 21821, 26 September 1932, Page 3

IN TEN HOURS

AUCKLAND TO PEMBROKE.

RECORD PLEASURE FLIGHT.

Flying from Auckland to Pembroke in exactly ten hours, Mr H. M. Mackay, managing director of New Zealand Airways Ltd., and Squadron Leader T. W. White recently set a new record in the Dominion for a long-distance pleasure flight undertaken in one day. The longest business flight on record stands to the credit of Mr R. L. Wigley and others, who flew from Invercargill to Auckland in a day. The record nonstop flight was made last year by Captain J. D. Hewitt in a Moth. Solo he flew from Dunedin to Auckland in ten hours, precisely the same time as that occupied by Squadron Leader White and two passengers on the journey from Auckland to Pembroke.

Plans for the flight were made by Mr Mackay when he was In New Plymouth last week attending the annual conference of the White Star Motor Services. With Mrs Mackay, he was on a flying tour of the North Island, and decided to make the direct flight to Lake Wanawa.

Mangere aerodrome was the hop-ping-off point. It was a beautiful day but an unforeseen hitch occurred, delaying the departure 37 minutes. However, the machine took off at 6.7 a.m., and a course was steered down the coast line with the intention of making three stops only of 30 minutes each for refuelling and refreshments at Hawera, Blenheim and Ashburton.

The second disappointment occurred on reaching the Waikato River, where a strong southerly was encountered with bumpy conditions. At this point, flying at 4000 ft., a clear view was obtained of the Firth of Thames. Upon reaching Raglan the weather conditions improved, although there was a fairly strong south-east wind all the way to Hawera. Shortly after leaving Raglan, Ngauruhoe, Ruapehu and Tongariro mountains came into view. Proceeding down the coast to Kawhia Harbour, a great deal of rough country was encountered, and then Mount Egmont came into view.

The flight was continued down as far as the Mokau River, after which a course was set across Taranaki to Hawera, where a landing was made at 8.42, the flying time being 2hrs 35min, against 2hrs 30min schedule time. Refuelling and obtaining weather reports caused a further delay. Owing to a bad weather report received from Paekakariki, a further report had to be obtained from Blenheim, whence advice was received of low-lying clouds over the Strait. A departure was made from Hawera at 9.20, 50 minutes later than schedule time. Conditions were good until passing Wanganui, when stronger head winds were encountered, with bumpy conditions. It was then that the mountains first sighted at Raglan were lost to view in the clouds. A further five minutes was lost circling Paekakariki waiting for the “All clear” signal before crossing the Strait. From this point it took exactly an hour to reach Blenheim, which was very slow time. Owing to the low clouds the crossing had to be made at 4,000 ft. A landing was made at the Marlborough Club’s aerodrome, Blenheim, at 12.5, and after a delay of 40 minutes for refuelling and refreshments the machine took off at 12.45. At this stage the party was lhr 25min behind schedule time, and very little hope was entertained of reaching Pembroke that day. Shortly afterwards, flying at 4000 ft, heavy clouds were encountered, and the machine climbed to 6000 ft. to get above them, and for the next threequarters of an hour the party flew over a sea of clouds reaching as far as the eye could see, with a beautiful blue sky above. It looked at though New Zealand had been completely swallowed up by a huge snowfall, leaving only the tops of two high peaks, the Kaikouras, standing above the clouds to the westward. A compass course was set from this point until approaching Kaikoura the clouds lifted. From this point an overland course was steered through Parnassus and Waipara. The head winds accounted for the very slow progress, and the party was doubtful whether Ashburton could be reached without refuelling. However, conditions improved a little after passing Christchurch, and a landing was made at Ashburton at 3.45, the schedule time being 1.50. The party then gave up all hope of being able to complete the journey, and decided to attempt to reach Dunedin. However, while refuelling it was noticed that the weather conditions had improved considerably, and it was decided to attempt to reach Pembroke. The safety factor had to have careful consideration, as it was all a question of daylight, the last portion of the route being over high, mountainous country.

The plane hopped off on the last stage at 4.10 p.m., Ihr 50min behind schedule time. Hopes grew high when Geraldine was reached in 20 minutes, and upon reaching Fairlie in 40 minutes the party was confident of success. When passing over Lake Pukaki at 5.5 the map went overboard, and from there on progress calculations by map had to be dispensed with, and observations confined to landmarks round the surrounding country. The principal peaks stood out prominently, particularly Mount Cook and Mount Aspiring. At 5.25 Lake Ohau was passed, and five minutes later Lake Hawera was sighted, and a further five minutes brought Lake Wanaka into view. At 5.40, flying at a height of 8,500 ft, the sun went down, and five minutes later the machine slipped over the high mountains at the back of Timaru Creek Station, and after a glide of 7500 ft made a perfect landing alongside the Hawera Flat Post Office, the hop from Ashburton taking Ihr 40min. The party finished the distance by car. An interesting feature of the trip was the fact that the actual flying time, 10 hours, was only lOmin over the schedule time, and the time for stoppages for refuelling was 23min over the schedule time. The following day Mr Mackay and Master Kenneth Mackay flew with Squadron Leader White to Timaru, accomplishing the trip in Ihr 45min.

As a telegram announcing the expected arrival of the plane had been sent from Ashburton the residents of Pembroke were incredulous when told that the party had travelled from Auckland since the morning. Their doubts, however, were removed when they were supplied with copies of that morning’s Auckland paper. To mark the event the tables of the hotel were decorated for dinner with fresh flowers from Auckland,