THE HOP OFF

Southland Times, Issue 21911, 12 January 1933, Page 5

THE HOP OFF

A PERFECT START THOUSANDS WITNESS DEPARTURE EERIE SIGHTS ON BEACH (Per United Press Association.) Gerringong Beach, January 11. Under a cloudless sky with the moon sinking behind the sandhills the Southern Cross taxied away across the beach and into space out of the sight of the cheering multitude at 2.50 a.m. Five minutes later the familiar drone of the old bus and its three motors was heard overhead, telling all below that the take-off had been accomplished successfully. Nearly eight tons of dead weight had been lifted from mother earth and suddenly transported hundreds of feet high into the murky darkness, the whole performance being both weird and a marvellous triumph of organization. Above was the spectral figure of the giant historic monoplane with its five occupants rapidly heading eastwards over a broad expanse of moonlit ocean soon to be in a sister Dominion, 1200 miles off, while below the scene was one from fairyland, with a myriad of flashing and dancing car lights, photographers’ flashlights, rockets and illuminations as the intermittent shooting of pictures advertised that the Southern Cross or the revellers on the sand were being snapped or filmed. Spectators Nonplussed. “Smithy” and his companions snatched a couple of hours’ sleep in the radio shed and the whole party looked jaded, though fit enough, as they filed out to enter the plane. Never was a more modest pilot than “Smithy,” as dressed in civilian clothes, he led the way into the cabin, chatting quietly with the mechanics and the ground staff. Twenty minutes later “Smithy” had climbed into the cockpit and without any ostentation the Southern Cross was in the air commencing its big job. The fifteen hundred spectators were nonplussed, so neatly and skilfully was the take-off executed. Very few people actually saw the machine rise, owing to the darkness and the precautions of the police who kept curious ones at a safe distance.

A milder or more promising night could not have been selected. The weather reports were all excellent and evei-yone of the flying argonauts was in the highest spirits. The New Zealander, Mr S. E. Nielson, told the Press Association representative: “My only fear is the possible monotony of the trip. I shall be glad to get home again. The heat and the flies here are more than I can stand. Anyhow, send our greetings to New Zealand and tell the folks there I will be home to tea.” Then he stepped off to the plane and embarked upon the great adventure.

The Southern Cross carries no boat. When asked what he would do in an emergency, “Smithy” laughed and said he anticipated no difficulty in taking the old bus across in one piece.

The beach was slightly bumpy and the plane ran nearly a mile before making altitude slowly owing to its heavy load, which includes 660 gallons of petrol and 30 gallons of oil. Many of the sightseers spent the waiting hours by sleeping on the sandy beach, which was dotted with figures wrapped in rugs, while the more fortunate ones secured brief naps in their cars.