STORY OF NOTABLE FLIGHT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19944, 31 October 1934, Page 7

STORY OF NOTABLE FLIGHT

KINGSFORD SMITH IN HONOLULU GRUELLING JOURNEY AT NIGHT United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph —Copyright HONOLULU, October 29. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and Mr Taylor landed at Wheeler Field at 8.40 a.m„ Honolulu time, exactly 25 hours from Suva. The fliers were smothered in leis, as they climbed wearily from the cockpit. They declared that the flight lacked unexpected incidents. Australians Praised. Sir Charles said he would probably take off for Los Angeles early tomorrow. When they landed they had fuel left for 2i hours’ flying. Sir Charles said: “It takes Australians to do it,” as he shook hands with Mr John Stannage, after landing. “ The flight will pave the way for trans-Pacific air traffic between the United States and Australia. The flight we are making convinces me that a trans-Pacific air service will be a realisation in the not distant future. He said the service would probably not be perfected until between five and ten years’ time. Sir Charles said that they sighted the south tip of Hawaii at 6.30 a.m., hut were uncertain of the position until over Molokai, 30 miles from Honolulu at 7.15 a.m. They cruised slowly until intercepted over Waikiki by a number of pursuit squadrons, when they gunned the ’plane 2000 feet over Honolulu, to run away from the escort. They then joined the formation to proceed to Wheeler Field. Thousands of people jammed the Field, where Sir Charles landed first in the Southern Cross six years ago. Problems to Face. Sir Charles on landing said there were two problems to face in the air service, namely, long overseas flights and lack of paying loads. He believed that multi-engined land 'planes were the best. Five thousand people watched the landing as Sir Charles circled the field, landed, and brought the ’plane to the concrete runway before the hangar. The military were unable to keep the crowd from swarming around the flyers. General Halsted Doret, commanding the United States army forces here, the Mayor (Mr Fred Wright), and representatives of the Honolulu Chamber of Commerce were among the dignitaries at the reception. Sir Charles’s first request was for a cigarette. He minimised the difficulties, but admitted that they were delayed by head winds, rain and clouds. They ate several sandwiches and drank cocoa en route, but in spite of this were hungry. The Next Stage. Lieutenant E. W. Stephens, navy aerographer, predicted strong head winds without a few hours, delaying the flyers’ progress if they took off to-morrow. There was a storm area along the United States’ Pacific coast. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, Mr Taylor and Mr Stannage were driven to the Royal Hawaiian Hotel lor breakfast. The flyers complained of feeling tired. Army officials are checking Sir Charles’s ’plane to-day, while the flyers rest at the Waikiki Hotel. The officials are replacing some fabric on the wings split by the wind and rain. The delay of the next hop is due to bad weather on the United States coast. Sir Charles was delighted when assigned to “My lucky room,” the same one he used in the 1928 flight. His baggage consisted of a hair comb and a tooth brush, in his pocket. ’Plane’s Close Call. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith changed his plans this morning, and delayed the take-off for three or four days. The Pacific Coast city at which he will land has not yet been decided upon. At the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Sir Charles revealed a narrow escape in a storm, accompanied by blinding rain and lightning. At midnight they ran into heavy rain at 12.000 feet. He leaned forward to turn on the headlights to improve the vision, but bumped into the switch releasing the landing gear. The shock threw the 'plane into a violent spin. They plunged down 6000 feet, before he pulled the 'plane out of the spin. “We thanked God we had so much altitude, otherwise we would have met our doom,” said Sir Charles. The rain lasted for an hour, and flooded the pilot’s seat, throwing the air speed indicator out of action. Sir Charles said he was forced to wiggle the 'plane in order to feel his way and guess the air speed. Sir Charles said the brakes broke in the landing at Wheeler Field, forcing the ’plane into a ground loop on to the concrete before the hangar. The crowds thought Sir Charles purposely swung the ’plane around in front of them. Sir Charles said: “Taylor is a wizard. With Harold Gatty, he is the best in the world. He found the exact point aimed for in the Hawaiian group.”

LONDON PRESS COMMENT FINE FLYING ACKNOWLEDGED Cnlted Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received October 30, 8.5 p.m.) LONDON. October 30. The London papers give prominence to Sir Charles Kingsford Smith’s fine flight.