A LONG PLIGHT.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 October 1921, Page 5

A LONG PLIGHT.

INVERCARGILL TO AUCKLAND. THE JOURNEY COMPLETED. UNDER NINE HOURS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. The DH9 aeroplane, piloted by J. C. Mercer, with W. H. P. Fleming, of Gore, and R. L. Wigley, of Timaru, as passengers, arrived at 6.8 p.m. from Invercargill in a total flying time of 8 hours 53 minute*.

The trip from Trentham to Auckland occupied 3 hours 36 minutes actual flying. Leaving Trentham at 1.50 they flew over Otaki, Feilding and Wanganui, thence to Hawera, arriving at 3.25 and leaving at 4.5 for Mokau. Thence the plane followed the West Coast line Good conditions were experienced throughout all the North Island. The altitude averaged about 4000 feet. The petrol consumption from Invercargill was 94 gallons.

Mr. Wigley, who is managing director of the New Zealand Aero Transport Co., is of opinion that it is quite feasible to run a daily passenger service from Bluff to Auckland. AN EARLIER STAGE. MACHINE AT WELLINGTON. Wellington, Oct. 25. The New Zealand Aero Transport Company’s DH9, which is flying from Invercargill to Auckland, arrived at Trentham at 12.25 p.m. to-day, after an entirely satisfactory flight from Timaru. The machine left Timaru at 8 a.m., passed Ashburton at 8.29, Christchurch at 8.58, Sir George Clifford’s property at 9.30, and arrived at Kaikoura at 9.55. The flight was resumed at 11.5, Blenheim was crossed at a height of 6000 feet at 11.56, and the coast was passed at noon. It took only eight minutes to cross Cook Strait, and the machine passed oyer Wellington at 12.15. The total time from Invercargill to Trentham 'was roughly 3hr. 20min. The weather was .beautiful.

The machine has left for Auckland, via Hawera. Auckland should be reached at 5.30 p.m.