RECORD TO DATE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20470, 23 November 1934, Page 1

RECORD TO DATE.

Tasman Now Flown 14 Times. ONLY ONE DISASTER. The trans-Tasman flight of Raymond Whitehead and Rex Nicholl is the fourteenth successful flight that has been made between this country and Australia. The first attempt, that made by Captain G. Hood and Lieutenant J. R. Moncrieff, of New Zealand, on January 10, 1928, ended in disaster. The airmen left Sydney in a Ryan monoplane, the Ao-tea-roa, early in the morning, and were never heard of again. Details of the other flights, all of which were successful, are as follows: September 10-11, 1928. —Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and Mr C. T. P. Ulm (co-commanders), Mr IT. A. Litchfield (navigator), and Mr T. H. M’Williams (wireless operator) made the first successful crossing in the Southern Cross, flying from Sydney to Christchurch in just over 14 hours. The machine encountered heavy storms in the night, and the wireless equipment was thrown out of commission for a great pait of the flight. October 13-14, 1928.—The Southern Cross made the return flight, lea\ing from Blenheim and landing at Sydney. This flight took nearly 23 hours, winds and fog making it a comparatively slow trip. January 7, 1931.—Mr Guy Menzies, using the Southern Cross Junior in which Sir Charles Kingsford Smith had broken the record from England to Australia, made a solo crossing, land ing in a swamp near Harihari, on the West Coast. Ilis was a surprise effort only those connected with its organisation knowing that it was ev-211 contemplated. March to June, 1931.—1 Mr F. C. Chichester, of Wellington, using the Moth machine in which he had flown solo from London to Sydney two years before, flew from Parengarenga Harbour. North Auckland, to Sydney by way of Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island. This was one of the most brilliantly conceived and doggedly executed sdo flights of all time. The work ->f the pilot in navigating his machine so ?r----curatelv that he hit such small landfalls as the two islands was remarkable, for it could not have been better if he had been in a big machine with a crew He was awarded the Johnson Memorial Trophy for it. The plane was I*meged at both Norfolk Island and L >rd Howe Island, while it was at anchor—it had been fitted with old floats from the seaplane which had been taken to Samoa at the time of the Mau disturbances —but the pilot repaired it himself, and finally accomplished the crossing about two and a half months after setting out. January 11, 1933.—The Southern Cross was used for another crossing by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, who had Captain P. G. Taylor as co-pilot and navigator, and Mr J. W. Stannage as wireless operator, and Mr S. E. Nelson sec retarv of the New Zealand Aero Club, and Mr J. Percival, a film publicity man. as pass ngers. The machine took off from Sydney and landed at New Plymouth after 141 hours. March 26, 1933.—The Southern Cross returned to Australia, taking off from Ninety Mile Beach and landing ?.t Sydney after nearly 14 hours of flying. Mr H. M. Mackay, manager of the firm of New Zealand Airways, was a passenger in the machine. First Women Passengers. December 4, 1933.—Mr C. T. P. Ulm crossed Tasman from Australia (fouith Australia-New Zealand flight), bringing his wife and private secretary in the plane, the first women to make the crossing. Mr G. U. (“ Scotty ”) Allan was co-pilot and Mr R. N. Boulton radio operator. January 14, 1934.—Southern Cross from Australia (fifth Tasman flight by this plane) ; Sir Charles Kingsford Smith pilot, Mr T. Pethvbridge co-pilot and Captain P. G. Taylor, navigator. The machine took off from Richm •nd Aerodrome and landed at New Pl>mouth after 15hr 25min, strong head winds being encountered. February 17, 1934.—Mr C. T. P. Ulm

flew the Faith in Australia from Muriwai Beach, Auckland, to Mascot, N.S.W., in 14hr lOmin; the first transTasman air mail, consisting of 40,000 letters, was carried; Mr G. U. Allan as co-pilot and Mr R. X. Boulton radio operator. The trip was made mostly through rain and the radio was out of action all the way. March 29, 1934.—The Southern Cross returned to Australia, taking off from Ninety Mile Beach and landing at Mascot 13hr 25min later. On board were Sir C. Kingsford Smith, Mr T. Pethybridge (co-pilot). Captain P. G. Taylor (navigator) and Mr J. W. Stannage (radio operator). A heavy mail was carried. There were light head winds and fine weathei. April 12. 1934.—The Faith in Aus tralia flew an air mail from Richmond to New Plymouth in 16hr 46min, stormy conditions and strong head winds being encountered: Mr C. T. P. Ulm pilot, Mr G. U.. Allan co-pilot, navigator and wireless operator, Mr R. X. Boulton engineer. April 14, 1934. —The Faith in Australia made a record fast crossing of llhr 58min from Ninety Mile Beach to Richmond, with 22,0(10 letters November 14, 1934.—Squadron-Leader J. D. Hewett and Flying-Officer C. E. Kay, Auckland competitors in the London to Melbourne Centenary Air Race, left Sydney- at 5.45 a.m., Australian time, and landed at Milson Aerodrome, Palmerston North, after a record flight of nine and three-quarter hours from coast to coast. They used a D.H. Dragon Rapide machine. November 22, 1934. Raymond Whitehead and Rex Nicholl, New Zealanders, took off from Gerringong Beach at 1.55 a.m. and landed at Ninety Mile Beach, Auckland, at 7.20 p.m. Their machine was the oldest Puss Moth in Australia and still had its original engine. Thej' were refused a license for the flight. “Very Foolhardy.” (Received November 23, 11 a.m.) MELBOURXE. This Day. Aviation officials described the flight made by Whitehead ' and Nicholl as “ very foolhardy.” The Controller of Civil Aviation, Captain E. Johnston, said the department had no power to seize the machine or to stop the flight.