ZEPPELIN CROSSES PACIFIC.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18354, 27 August 1929, Page 9

ZEPPELIN CROSSES PACIFIC.

Tokyo To San Francisco. AMAZING SPEED ON HISTORIC FLIGHT. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (Received August 26. 7.15 p.m.) NEW YORK. August 25. The Graf Zeppelin circled over San Francisco once, and thrice dipped its nose in reply to the welcome of the tousands below, then turned back to the sea, heading southward for Los Angeles. The speed on the trip from Tokyo surprised everyone, for no one expected the Zeppelin to arrive before noon on Monday. The excitement has been equalled here only by the departure of Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith for Australia. For a number of years, the Tokyo to San Francisco record has been held by N.Y.K. liner Shinyo Maru, and was slightly over eleven days. Progress of the Flight. The Graf Zeppelin is now proceeding to Los Angeles, where Commander Eckener stated he might hang over the field until daylight, before mooring. The President’s son. Mr Herbert Hoover, junr., is flying to meet the dirigible, and will broadcast the reception from the air over the nation by radio network. The Zeppelin having escaped threatening storms, proceeded towards the coast at a speed of approximately 80 miles an hour, with favourable weather probably for the duration of the voyage. Preparations for reception at Los Angeles are complete. ROUND THE WORLD TRIP. HISTORIC FLIGHT IN EIGHTEEN DAYS. (Unitsd Prsas Association—By Elsetr'* Telegraph—Copyright.) (Received August 26, 7.30 p.m.) SAN FRANCISCO, August 25. The Graf Zeppelin, eighteen days after leaving Lakehurst, returned to the United States, and flew over the city at 6.15 p.m., en route to Los Angeles mooring mast. All are well aboard. The weather was favourable for speed. The high power motors roared in perfect unison, without a sign of the «battle with the hard weather. The dirigible passed at a height of 100 ft. above Golden Gate. The spectators were nearly blinded by the reflection of the brilliantly setting sun on the silver sides. THE JOURNEY ACROSS. PROGRESS REPORTS BY RADIO. (United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright.) NEW YORK, August 25. The Graf Zeppelin, having escaped the threatening storms, is proceeding towards the coast at a speed of approximately 80 miles per hour, with favourable weather probably for the •duration of the voyage. All are well aboard, and the dirigible is expected to reaefy California late to*day. Preparations for the receptions at Los Angeles are complete. A Philadelphia message states that the Reading Railroads Station received a message from the Graf Zeppelin at 5 o’clock this afternoon, local time, reporting that the dirigible was then running on a southerly course towards California, with approximately 400 miles to go before reaching San Francisco. The message,stated: “The Zeppelin is making for the upper Californian coast. We will not visit Seattle. A storm is spreading over the northern portion of the Pacific, and we may go direct to Los Angeles. Our position is 130 west, 39.45 north.” This position put the Zeppelin 300 miles off the coast, west of Cape Mendocino. (The Graf Zeppelin left Friedrichshafen at 3.30 ajn. on August 1, for Lakehurst (New Jersey) to undertake a world flight. Landing in America at 8.52 p.m. on August 14, the Graf Zeppelin made the second westward trans-Atlantic commercial crossing, of approximately 5331 miles, in 95 hrs. 23 mins., against 111 hrs. 46 mins, for the first trip of 6275 miles. A previous message stated that Commander Eckener plans to navigate the Graf Zeppelin round the world in fourteen flying days, with approximately nine days for refuelling and receptions. The total flying distance is 20,000 miles, and the longest non-stop flight was between Friedrichshafen and Tokyo, 6500 miles. The route thence was to Los Angeles and back to Lakehurst. A route via the north of Hawaii was followed across the Pacific Ocean. The Zeppelin left Lakehurst at 11.42 on August 7 for Friedrichshafen, which was reached at 1 p.m. on August 10, after a record flight of 55$ hours. Leaving Friedrichshafen on August 15 the airship commenced the longest portion of the flight, the 6500 miles hop to Tokyo, which was reached on August 19. The flight across the Pacific to Los Angeles was commenced on August 23, and the big airship safely reached the American shores after a journey that Is memorable in the history of aviation.] ARRIVAL DESCRIBED BY RADIO. By Telegraph—Preis Aaaoclation. WANGANUI, August 26. In connection with the cruise of the Graf Zeppelin, it is interesting to record that a Wanganui radio amateur picked up Station KHJ, Los Angeles, California, this evening, and heard the announcer state, after he had explained that there was a thick bank of fog over the city, that the Graf Zeppelin had just emerged from the fog. the time being then 1.45 a.m., Pacific Coast time, and 9.15 p.m. New Zealand time. A huge crowd were awaiting the arrival of the airship, and when two 10,000watt searchlights were focussed on the Zeppelin, pandemonium broke loose, people cheering, engines whistling] Klaxons shrieking wildly. All the announcements came through clearly, said the Wanganui amateur, and the announcer stated that the airship was then making its way to a landing place.