WILL AGAIN FLY TASMAN

Taranaki Daily News, 21 February 1933, Page 6

WILL AGAIN FLY TASMAN

KINGSFORD SMITH DECIDES ADVICE OF THE METEOROLOGIST. END OF MARCH PROBABLE DATE. SOUTHERN CROSS VISITS HAWERA. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. After considering the report of the Government Meteorologist, Dr. Kidson, upon the general weather conditions in March Sir Charles Kingsford Smith has decided to fly the Southern Cross back to Australia about the end of that month. Accompanying him will be Capt. Taylor, as co-pilot and navigator, Mr. Stannage, wireless operator, Mr. Pethybridge, engineer, and Mr. J. Percival junr. or another passenger if Mr. Percival is unable to make the trip. Mr. Pethybridge, who - is a licensed pilot, will have the place occupied by Mr. S. E. Nielson, New Plymouth, on the trip to New Zealand.

Sir Charles hopes to leave New Plymouth for Ninety Mile Beach on Friday, March 24. There he will await favourable winds. Dr. Kidson’s report was to the effect that March conditions are favourable. , Records show that there will be four or five days in April when the flight could be made in safety.

After carrying out another inspection of the airport at Rongotai Sir Charles said that unless the conditions were extremely unfavourable he would be able to carry out passenger flights in the Southern Cross there. The date for the visit to Wellington had been fixed for March 17. On March 21 Dannevirke would be visited. A visit will also be paid to Hawera, although no passenger flights will be made. The machine will then proceed to New Plymouth, where the tanks will be fitted for the return flight.