CHRONICLE OF THE FLIGHT

Taranaki Daily News, 31 March 1934, Page 7

CHRONICLE OF THE FLIGHT

PLANE IN CONSTANT TOUCH MESSAGES TELL PROGRESS The Southern Cross laft Ninety Mile Beach at 3.50 a.m. (New Zealand time) ©n Thursday. Sir Charles was thus flying his famous plane across the Tasman for the sixth time. The plane took off with a heavy air mail. The crew comprised Sir Charles Kingsford Smith (pilot), Captain P. G. Taylor (co-pilot and .navigator), Mr. J. S. W. Stannage (radio operator), Mr. T. Pethybridge (co-pilot and engineer), and Mr. J. Percival, passenger. Approximately 1000 persons cheered the plane on its departure. The weather, outlook was better and the monoplane left Mangere for Ninety Mile . Beach at 12.30 p.m. on Wednesday. The report of Dr. E. Kidson, Government meteorologist, was that conditions over the Tasman Sea were favourable. ■Ninety Mile Beach was reached after two hours’ flight.. The plane was placed on planking, above high water mark, and at a late hour was removed to the hard sand. About 800 late letters, posted at Auckland, were put aboard the Southern Cross before her departure from Mangere. On arrival there the letters were taken to the Kaitaia post office and added to the air mail already there. A small quantity of late mail from the South arrived by Wednesday morning’s express, and, having been sorted, on the train, was immediately transferred to the express for WHangarei, whence it was forwarded to Kaitaia. MESSAGES FROM THE PLANE. The following messages were received from the Southern Cross during the progress of the flight:— The plane left Ninety Mile Beach at 3.50 a.m. (New Zealand time). All times mentioned hereafter will be New Zealand times. There was a perfect beach and moon for the departure. The weather report was: “Fine all the way.” With the mail and full petrol tanks the plane’s total weights was sJ.tons. During the loading the mail somebody disconnected the radio batteries. Stannage took off his coat to effect repairs, but smilingly discovered the cause of the hold up. “What a relief,” he said, “I thought the set had gone bung.” 4.15 a.m.: “Smithy” and Pethybridge are at the controls and Taylor is working out the course under a torchlight. The Cape Maria Van Diemen light is on the right. Our height is 500 feet with heavy cloud banks. 4.20 a.m.: The officers of the Wanganella think we shall miss her owing to her estimated position at 8 a.m. (New Zealand time) being latitude 34.12 south and longitude 165.5 east. There are six overflow mail bags in the cabin, also 12 four-gallon petrol tins. 4.30 a.m.: Not enough light to see the water. Taylor must wait to get an accurate drift reading. He has just had a peep at the clouds. There is a slight south-west wind so he has put on three degrees for drift. BLIND FLYING EXPERIENCED. 5 a.m.: Ran into a small patch of “dirt” It is nothing serious but is pitch-black outside. 5.15 a.m.: Pethybridge is flashing a torch in the cockpit to read the instruments. “Smithy” is flying absolutely blind. 5.30 a.m.: Making good headway at 1000 feet with a 450 ft aerial trailing. “Smithy” and Pethybridge are still at the controls. Taylor is waiting for daylight. 5.45 a.m.: Pethybridge has just left the cabin to pump’gas. He reports that we are cruising at 90 miles an hour. Taylor taking the controls. 6 a.m.: Dawn breaks with heavy cloud banks. The seas appear moderate in the half-light. Taylor is back aft for a drift sight. Stannage just blew a fuse. 6.15 a.m.: Taylor reports seven degrees' drift to starboard. The wind is south-south-east. All are well. 6.40 a.m.: Taylor's estimate of our position is 34.24 degrees south and 168.55 degrees east. The wind is south-south-east, blowing at 20 miles an hour. The ground speed is 100 miles an hour. “Smithy” had a sick spell. He ate something at the beach which disagreed with him. 7 a.m.: “Smithy” is resting with a mail bag for a pillow. Though the sea is fairly calm the action of the sea against the wind causes a great number of “white horses,” which give deceiving drift observations. 9 a.m.: “Smithy” spoke to his wife aboard the Wanganella by wireless telephony. Lady Kingsford Smith’s conver-

sation was transmitted in Morse back to the Southern Cross by Mr. Vincent, wireless operator of the Wanganella. Arrangements were made for Lady Kingsford Smith to be on the bridge with a flag as the Wanganella drew closer. Her message from Mr. Vincent thundered in, but the visibility closed in and although only a few miles away the ship could not be seen. “Smithy” did not wish to waste petrol by circling. The course is now altered for Lord Howe Island. FIRST SEXTANT SISHT. 9.30 a.m.: “Smithy” just came down and flew over the sea at six feet while the navigator took the first sextant sight. Taylor is now busy plotting the course. Stannage is japping this through with a toheroa fritter in the other hand. 10 a.m.: Pethybridge is relieving “Smithy” at the controls. We are entering a bad visibility area. We have just had some oranges. The three motors are running perfectly. 10.30 a.m.: “Smithy” has again taken over the controls to fly just above the wave tops so that Tayloi can get a true horizon sextant shot. Three feet off the water it is possible to appreciate the spread of the plane, which is cruising at 100 miles an hour. 11 a.m.: It is estimated that the machine has flown 700 miles since taking off. The positio.. is now latitude 32.50 south, longitude 1v1.7 east. 11.30 a.m.: I am right- on the course. Lord Howe Island is in sight. Bill Taylor is receiving congratulations from “Smithy” on his excellent navigation job. 12.15 p.m.: “Smithy” circled Lord Howe Island several times before continuing on to Sydney. The island may be a show-place from the ground, but from the air it is a gem. Stannage is in touch with the island by radio. 12.45 p.m.: The Southern Cross has approximately 440 miles to go to reach Sydney. 2.15 p.m.: Our position is 275 miles from Sydney. The sea and wind are heavier. We expect to arrive at Mascot aerodrome about 4 p.m.