SOUTHERN CROSS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20256, 16 March 1934, Page 4

SOUTHERN CROSS.

“ Smithy ” Delighted With Flight. TRIP FROM WESTPORT. “I think it was the most beautiful trip I have ever had in New Zealand,” said Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith last evening after his flight over the Southern Alps from Westport late in the afternoon. “The view of snow-cap-ped peaks through the clouds was magnificent, and I was sorry I did not have my movie camera with me.” Blue and silver in the twilight, the Southern Cross arrived at Wigram Aerodrome shortly before seven o’clock. Sir Charles slipped in low down over the Air Force hangars, and after a perfect landing, brought the famous monoplane to rest in front of the Canterbury Aero Club’s hangar. The Rotorua Airways yellow Puss Moth, which will act as tender ’plane during the South Island tour, had arrived about an hour before, piloted by Squadron-Leader A. J. Butler. When interviewed later in the evening, Sir Charles said that the Southern Cross had flown over the Alps at a height of 8000 feet above the cloud level A headwind was encountered during the first part of the jolirney, but the rest of the way the air was dead still. After leaving Westport at twenty minutes to five, the Southern Cross flew down the coast as far as Greymouth, and then turned east. All the passengers had been very impressed with the view of the mountains from the ’plane. This was the first occasion on which the Southern Cross had visited the West Coast and Sir Charles said that he had been most cordially received. Crowds of people had turned out to see the famous “old bus.” Landing Grounds Needed. “Good landing grounds are wanted on the West Coast,” said Sir Charles. “The people are very keen indeed on aviation, and seem willing to spend the money on providing proper grounds.” Sir Charles said that he had inspected a possible landing ground near the hospital at Greymouth. It was right on the sea shore, and he considered it was the obvious place for big commercial machines. He did not think, however, that short passenger flights should be allowed owing to the proximity of the hospital. At present all that the landing ground needed was an extension of the runway. Sir Charles said that he had also inspected a piece of land at Westport which had the makings of a good j ground. Questioned regarding the return flight across the Tasman, Sir Charles i said he expected to leave Ninety-Mile Beach at three o’clock on the morning of March 28, when he would probably j have the assistance of an easterly j breeze. That was one of his reasons for taking off from the beach instead of from New Plymouth. Captain P. G. Taylor would be co-pilot and navigator and Mr J. S. W. Stannage would } be wireless operator. It was also possible that Mr J Percival, who had already made the crossing of the Tasm?n, would fly back again. The Codock. Sir Charles said that the Codock machine, which will be flown across the Tasman by Mr T. W. White, would be ready in a fortnight. Before leaving for New Zealand she would undergo an overloaded test at Richmond Aerodrome for the purpose of .seeing how long she took to get off the ground and a test with a weight up equivalent to the weight of the fuel and equipment for the Tasman crossing It was also proposed to make a non-stop flight to Brisbane and back to get the engine? settled down. Describing the new monoplane, Sir Charles said that with almost a full commercial load aboard her cruising speed in test flights was 125 miles an hour. She climbed at the rate of 250 feet a minute on one engine. Commander T. A. Bennetts late of the Royal Australian Navy, will accompany Mr White as navigator. He was the navigator and surveyor to the Mackav Aerial Exploration Expedition which went into Central Australia last year. He is well known in Australian aviation circles and has specialised in air survey work since his retirement from the Royal Australian Navy three years ago. The Codock will land at New Plymouth, but only for about fifteen minutes for a general check-over, because the flight is to finish at Auckland. If he is still in New Zealand, Sir Charles will meet the Codock, and provided tnat Mr White can throttle down the new machine sufficiently, he will escort it up to Auckland.