ULM AGAIN.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20278, 12 April 1934, Page 9

ULM AGAIN.

Stormy Flight Over Tasman. LANDED AT NEW PLYMOUTH. p*»r Pres* Association. NEW PLYMOUTH, April 12. The Faith in Australia, piloted by Mr C. T. P. Ulm, landed at New Ply-

mouth at 11.53 a.m., after a flight from Sydney lasting 16' hours 46 minutes. Stormy conditions were met with during the trip, with strong south to southeast winds At times the weather was very rough, and the flight took a good deal longer than was anticipated.

Mr Ulm’s crew included Mr G. U. Allen (co-pilot, navigator and wireless operator) and Mr R. T. Bolton (engineer). H.M.S. Dunedin, which was in port at New Plymouth, picked up a mes* .‘■age earlier that Mr Ulm had sighted Mount Egmont at 10.27 and expected to land at 11.30. The plane was first sighted at 11.45 a.m., and flew in from the sea right over New Plymouth and landed safely at 11.53 am. Enthusiastic Welcome. The airmen were given an enthusiastic welcome, speeches being delivered by Mr A. F. Sandford, president of the New Plymouth Aero Club, Mr S. G. Smith, M.P., Mr E. R. Gilmour, Mayor, and Sir Hubert Wilkins. Mr Ulm and Mr G. U. Allen replied. Mr Ulm apologised for the delay in landing, stating that the plane had been delayed by head winds. The sorting of the mail was immediately put in hand, and the mail will be dispatched by Defence Department planes to Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. STRONG HEAD WIND. Was Prepared to Turn Back. According to cable messages received during the flight, the weather encountered at the outset was cold and showery, with a strong head wind. Mr Ulm took off from the Richmond Aerodrome, Sydney, at 5.7 pm. yesterday. A Weather Bureau forecast before he left predicted: “ Dense cloud formation over the Tasman, with strong head winds for practically the whole of the trip.” Mr Ulm remarked before leaving: “It looks like a long hard flight. We may have to turn back, but we will not be far over the Tasman if such a decision is necessary. Arrangements have been made for us to land at Richmond by flares.” The rain-sodden aerodrome necessitated a longer take-off than usual. The machine took 700 gallons of petrol, sufficient for twenty-three hours’ flying. The flight was expected to occupy sixteen to eighteen hours. A postal mail-van arrived at the aerodrome after lunch loaded with 39,000 letters, weighing slightly more than five hundredweight. Some difficulty was encountered when starting, the starboard engine causing a delay of fifty minutes. A hearty cheer was given by the small crowd when the Faith in Australia rose gracefully after a splendid take-off. Three Hours Out. It was difficult to obtain information in Sydney last night concerning the progress of Mr Ulm’s flight. However, Mrs Ulm, who received some messages, reported that at 1015 p.m the monoplane was still heading towards New' Zealand. Everything was going well. She added that her husband expected to be met by military aeroplanes which would take the mails to the principal cities of the Dominion. He hoped to return to Australia on Saturday or Sunday. No progress reports concerning the flight were issued. OFFICIAL AIR MAIL. Arrangements for Speedy Delivery. Arrangements for the speedy delivery in Christchurch of the first official air mail from Australia, which arrived at New Plymouth this morning in the Faith in Australia, have been made by the local branch of the Post and Telegraph Department. It was hoped to have the mail for Christchurch distributed in the course of ,this afternoon’s delivery by postmen, but this was made impossible owing to the late arri\*al of the plane at New Plymouth. Immediately the Faith in Australia had discharged its consignment of mail, Squadron-Leader J. L. Findlay loaded that portion of it intended for Christchurch into a Puss Moth and took off for the South Island. He was expected to arrive at the Wigram aerodrome at 4.30 o'clock. The journey from New Plymouth to Wellington, it was estimated this afternoon, would occupy two hours, and a similar time would elapse on the trip between Wellington and Christchurch. No time will be lost in rushing the mail to the central post office, where those anticipating correspondence from Australia will be able to receive ic at the postmen’s branch up to 5 p.m. between the hours of 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. mail will also be available if application is made at the delivery counter. The mail for Christchurch, according to advance advice, consists of approximately 3000 letters, but it is probable that some of it is intended for places south of Christchurch. When Sir Charles Kingsford Smith recently flew the Tasman in the Southern Cross he carried 4000 letters from Christchurch, but when the mail intended for Mr Ulm's flight back to the Commonwealth on Saturday, April 14 (weather permitting) closed last evening. the postal authorities locally had received a consignment of 592 letters only.