THE BIG FLIGHT.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 659, 12 January 1933, Page 13

THE BIG FLIGHT.

Comments by Passenger in Southern Cross. FIRST FILM MAIL SERVICE. {Written for the “ Star ” by JACK PERCIVAL.) NEW PLYMOUTH, January 11. When. Air-Commodore Sir Charles Kingsford Smith to-day completed his second successful flight from Australia to New Zealand he added yet another to his great list of remarkable achievements, which include the trans-Pacific flight in June, 1928; from Australia to New Zealand and back, 1928; from Australia to England, when he beat Bert Hinkler’s record; and in 1930 he flew the Atlantic west to east and delivered the Southern Cross in San Francisco, thus completely encircling the globe. He also made a record solo flight from England to Australia in 1930, and flew the first all-Australian air mail to and from England. 1931-32. In all his big flights Kingsford Smith’s motto has been “ safety first ”. Not because of any personal fears, but in the interests of aviation. On the trans-Tasman flight just completed it was the first time in the history of aviation that wireless telephony was used on an ocean flight. Stannage, the wireless operator, is diminutive in stature, but what he lacks in size he makes up for in energy and enthusiasm for wireless. For weeks before the flight he laboured on the assembling of hjs equipment in the plane. Captain Taylor, the navigator, is an ex-war pilot, and one of the most competent pilots of the Australian National Airways. Mr Neilson, who also accompanied “ Smithy ” on his flight, is the secretary of the New Plymouth Aero Club, whilst the writer (Jack Percival), the baby of the complement of the Southern Cross, is a Sydne\ r journalist, whose particular mission was to accompany the Universal film “ Air Mail ”. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith has always done all in his power to foster aviation, but the real point in the flight just completed is the inauguration of the trans-Tasman passenger service and air mail service. The writer has done some extensive flying during his assignments as a journalist, but he is not a pilot, and to him goes the honour of being the first air passenger to cross the Tasman, and to Universal Pictures goes the credit of first utilising an aeroplane to convey goods to New Zealand for direct commercial purposes. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith saw the film “ Air Mail ” at a Sydney Theatre, and was very enthusiastic about it, particularly as scenes for it were taken on a field on which he often landed as a pilot of an American air mail service. In view of the picture’s splendid aviation spirit, Sir Charles decided to help in its presentation as much as possible, and he considers it the greatest of all air pictures. Before the Southern Cross took off from Gerringong Beach its tanks were filled with 660 gallons of petrol and 30 gallons of oil. For weeks prior to the commencement of the flight engineers laboured on the three motors. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith regards the Southern Cross as almost human because of the great flights on which he has flown it. It is easily the most famous aeroplane in the world, and he has been bffered fabulous prices, for it by American interests, but will not part with it. During the long flight across the Tasman the crew and passengers in the Southern Cross were in continual Morse and -wireless telephony contact with Australia, New Zealand and shipping.