Flyers Return From North.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18576, 26 September 1928, Page 12

Flyers Return From North.

STRONG HEAD WIND DELAYS JOURNEY. Two of the Bristol Fighter aeroplanes which left 'Blenheim at. two o clock yes terday afternoon for Christchurch returned safely to the Wigram Aerodrome at 4.35 p.m. yesterday. One, piloted by Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith, brought as a passenger FlightLieutenant C. T. P. Ulm, while the other, piloted by Captain M. Buckley, of the New Zealand Permanent Air Force, brought Mr T. FI. M’William, radio operator of the Southern Cross, as passenger. The third machine, which was piloted by Captain J. L. Findlay, who had the navigator of the Southern Cross, Mr H. A. Litchfield; with him, was forced to land at the mouth of the Con u-ay River, about ninety miles by road from Christchurch, on account of trouble with the pressure pump. Cap tain Findlay made a first-class land ing, with no damage to the machine or its occupants. The two aeroplanes which arrived at Christchurch, were sighted from the aerodrome at 4.30 p.m., flying over the north-west portion of the city. Arriving over the aerodrome, both machines made a wide sweep round over the hangar in order to sec the wind indicator. Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith delighted the three hundred spectators by making a beautiful loop low down over the hangar.

C aptain Buckley landed first, to be followed a few seconds later by Squad-ron-Leader Kingsford Smith. Both machines taxied up to the main hangar, where the airmen alighted, the crowd surging around in order ' to get a glimpse of the airmen. The aeroplanes were quickly driven off to the hangars by mechanics, and the members of the crew of the Southern ( ross went over to ( aptgin Findlay's house and later came to the city. Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith delighted those present by making a perfect landing. He hit the ground without a bump of any kind and pulled up in a remarkably short space. HEAD WINDS. On the flight through Xew Zealand, the three machines met with head winds all the way. said Captain Bucklev, when interviewed after he had landed. The worst trip of the lot was on Monday, when, the flight was undertaken from Wanganui to Blenheim. It was very bumpy, and hail and -rain were met with on several occasions. The flight from Blenheim was all right, added Captain. Buckley, although it was a little bumpy when travelling over the high hills in the Kaikoura district. A stiff head wind was met with all the way, the flight taking two hours thirty-five, minutes. When Captain Buckley landed at. the Wigram Aerodrome, he had just enough petrol to carry his machine in the air for another seven or eight minutes.