LONG FLIGHT TO HONOLULU

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19943, 30 October 1934, Page 7

LONG FLIGHT TO HONOLULU

KINGSFORD SMITH ON THE WING PROGRESS REPORTS OF BIG JUMP United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright SUVA, October 29. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith left Naselai at 6.05 a.m., for Honolulu on the second hop of his flight across the Pacific Ocean, from Australia to the United States. Sir Charles returned to Naselai and spend Sunday morning preparing to resume the flight to Honolulu. He spent the previous night at the native capital, Bau, as a guest of Ratu Pope Cakabou, the paramount chief of Fiji, grandson of Cakabou the last King of Fiji. An engineer, Busing, gave the aeroplane a final overhaul. Signs of Strain. Sir Charles showed signs of strain, when waiting to take off. He was not cheerful when he landed on Wednesday. He remarked that the job had to be done, and was anxious to get off in the afternoon. He left camp unaccompanied for a walk. Taylor was confident and cheerful. He said he anticipated no difficulties. The airmen planned to leave Fiji and fly over the Islands of Taviuni and Futuna, hoping to sight the Phoenix Group, which is lowlying, and might be difficult to sight. If sighted, it gives a new departure point, and makes Honolulu a bigger target than anticipated. The Fiji-Honolulu trip will take twenty-two hours, and they will then leave for Los Angeles. The first five hours they would be flying low owing to the heavy load. Afterwards they could climb to 15,000 feet if necessary; 510 gallons were taken, Sir Charles sitting on 20 gallons •—the final reserve. Satisfactory Weather Reports. At midnight the weather reports arrived by messenger, and Sir Charles was awakened. He said they were very satisfactory. It was calm everywhere, and the weather this morning was fine, with a favourable wind. The machine was warmed up at 6.10, and the ’plane moved off up the beach, running 1000 yards before it rose slowly under the heavy load, climbing gradually, and was lost to sight in the grey cloud over the sea. PROGRESS OF THE FLIGHT RADIO MESSAGES FROM THE ’PLANE United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright HONOLULU, October 29. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith was 202 miles from Suva at 9.45, Honolulu time. He reported that he was climbing slowly, and was then 3500 feet; all well. He logged 535 miles for the first five hours. Sir Charles reported that he was flying blind in a bad storm at 1.30 p.m., Honolulu time. He was unable to give the position, but kept the key open. The navy estimated that his position was 700 miles from Suva. Heavy Rain Clouds. Tutuila, at 1.30 p.m. picked up a message which read: “Under heavy rain clouds, at 500 ft. 0.K.” A message received at 2 p.m. stated; “The weather is better with visibility from nothing to five miles.” At 2.30 p.m. (Honolulu time) Tutaila reported: Kingsford Smith’s position is latitude 6 degrees 50 minutes south, longitude 173 degrees 33 minutes west. Distance run 950 miles. A message from the ’plane reported: "Now at 2500 ft; ten miles visibilty; weather very warm.” Single Hop to Hawaii. A later message stated that the airmen had sighted one of the Phoenix Islands, believed to be Hull, at 4.10 p.m., Honolulu time. They passed Birnie Island at 4.48 p.m. and at 6.23 p.m. sent a radio message to Fanning Island that they would make Hawaii in a single hop. The message said: “Petrol in the wing tanks finished. According to consumption to date, we are quite safe on fuel. All 0.K.” Wheeler Field is prepared for a night landing but it is not expected that Sir Charles will arrive before dawn. Sir Charles had passed the half-way mark but he advised the Army authorities he was throttling down so as to arrive at dawn. At 6.30 p.m. the ’plane’s position was 170 deg west and 4-10 south. At 7.30 p.m. the same latitude was reported and 169 deg west. Apparently the airmen turned east to pass over Fanning Island. Beautiful Weather Experienced. The position of the ’plane at 8.30 p.m. was latitude 2.129 deg north, longitude 168.101 west. A message read: “Night very black, but will get the full moon in about four hours. Plenty of stars for making sights." Earlier Sir Charles reported he was flying at 6500 feet in beautiful weather. The position of the ’plane at 9.30 p.m. was latitude 3.4Bdeg north and longitude 167.15 deg west. Sir Charles reported at 10 p.m.: “Everything splendid. A good smooth night.” At 10.30 his position was latitude s.2Bdeg north, longitude 166.16 deg west. Rapidly Nearing Destination. At 12.30 a.m., Sir Charles was reported to be 880 miles from Wheeler Field.