REPAIRING SOUTHERN CROSS

Taranaki Daily News, 18 February 1933, Page 3 (Supplement)

REPAIRING SOUTHERN CROSS

WILL FLY AGAIN IN FORTNIGHT.

PROGRESS OF REPAIRS. Reaching up the wall to a height of lift 6in and extending for a distance of 72 feet, the giant wing of the famous Southern Cross monoplane is now undergoin repair at the Palmerston. North showgrounds. The damaged portion, some 12 feet on the left. tip, has been stripped of its skin and two shifts are working night and day to have repairs effected in time for Air Commodore Sir Charles Kingsford Smith to fly the machine in a fortnight’s time. A Times reporter visited the temporary workshop recently and was shown by Aircraftsman H. C. Affleck, of Australia, who is in charge of operations, what is being accomplished. It was explained that, owing to adverse weather conditions interfering, the giant wing had not been removed until Tuesday last when at 5 a.m., a start was made to disengage it from the plane. This task was completed three hours later. i Two pieces of 6 x 4 timber had been bolted on to the centre of the wingthrough the portion where it is normally joined to the engine fittings—the whole of it then being balanced between two wheels approximately 4ft 6in high and 18in wide. A motor-lorry was called into use to tow the delicate freight. Further difficulty was experienced at the showgrounds, where, at the rear entrance, two panels had to be removed from the fence adjacent to the gate, this being necessary to get the wing through intact. Again at the entrance to the poultry-shed, now used as the workshop, the sliding doors had to be removed bodily for sufficient clearance. Fortunately, the task was completed before the heavy rain set in. The wing was first placed flat on a special bench, where the damaged portion was removed. A scaffolding, lift 6in high was constructed and yesterday the wing was roped to this on its side, workmen having to use 150 bolts on it during, their work, which is of an intricate nature and requiring both caution and skill. Two shifts, one of five men and the other of four, carry on from 6.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. daily and then until 11.30 p.m. “It is hoped to have the Southern Cross flying again in a fortnight,” said Mr. Affleck. “You will no doubt be interested to learn that we secured sufficient 3-ply aeroplane wing covering in New Zealand to keep us going until the other, ordered from Sydney, arrives next Tuesday. A bit of this came from Auckland and some from Wellington,' although we had to cable for the remainder. The silver spruce for the spars was procured at Palmerston North, and the propellor to replace the one smashed has been sent for.” He went on to explain that the covering was on 2 millimetres in thickness and was 3-ply held in position by five-eighth of an inch gimp-pins. FUSELAGE IN HEAVY GALE. At the Milson aerodrome, where the Southern Cross, minus its wing, is being overhauled, a 60-mile an hour gale caused consternation on Friday. Although tied down, the big machine was rocked by the force of the wind and the tail had to be removed to prevent damage being done. The plane was then covered with tarpaulins and left for the da Messrs. T. Pethybridge (chief engineer), J. Stannage (radio operator) and H. Purvis (mechanic) assisted by another mechanic, are at present busily engaged overhauling the three engines of the Southern Cross. This work was to have been carried out at Christchurch but, owing to the unfortunate mishap last

Saturday, opportunity was taken to do this in conjunction with the repairs to the undercarriage. The material for the damaged portion of the undercarriage is being procured from the Sockbum aerodrome and it is confidently anticipated that this section of the work will be completed, with the other in readiness for the take-off in a fortnight’s time.