DAMAGED AEROPLANE

Taranaki Daily News, 14 February 1933, Page 3

DAMAGED AEROPLANE

SOUTHERN CROSS’ REPAIRS. THREE SHIFTS AT WORK. Three shifts of five men are being worked on the repairs to the Southern Cross aeroplane at Palmerston North, the work on the wing being under the supervision of Mr. Affleck, the air-crafts-man on Sir Charles Kingsford Smith’s staff. The .wing has been stripped, and it has been found necessary to replace a couple of ribs. A new propeller has been ordered from Australia. While the wing is being repaired Mr. J. T. Pethbridge, the chief engineer, will make a complete overhaul of the engines in view of the return flight. The damaged wing is being housed and repaired at the Palmerston North show grounds, and the engines are being overhauled at the Manawatu Aero Club premises. The fuselage of the aeroplane is still on the aerodrome, and is covered with tarpaulins. Mr. J. Percival states that the Government Meteorologist, Dr. E. Kidson, has reported that the weather conditions for a trans-Tasman flight at the end of March or the beginning of April might be favourable, and had offered , to prepare data setting out the conditions in previous years.

As soon as possible after he returns to Australia, Sir Charles will go to England to take over an agency and make another attempt on the England-to-Aus-tralia record! . Sir Charles, it is said, hinks he may. bring the time down to about eight days. "