RECKLESS FLIERS

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3237, 24 November 1934, Page 5

RECKLESS FLIERS

ANOTHER TASMAN GROSSING. UNAUTHORISED VENTURE - I : —'' ■'•''•—' In aju old : P.u3s Moth aeroplane without a certificate ;,of. airworthiness or registration, and;,limited aids to navigation,! two young airmen, R. G. Whitehead, of Wellington, and Rex Nicholl, of Sydney made a successful, though hazardous, crossing of the Tasman Sea on Thursday. The fliers left Gerringong Beach, 73 miles south of Sydney, at 3.55 a.m. (Now Zealand time) with a perfect take-off. Their plans were to land at New Plymouth, but no word was hoard of them until they arrived at Mangere aerodrome at about 7.20 a.m. yesterday morning.

Grave fears Avere expressed for their safety during the night, as it was realised that the venture had been made without thought to precaution. A compass and aircraft chronometer were the only aids to navigation carried and the tanks containod 120 gallons of petrol, sufficient for 20 hours flying. However, they made tho crossing and landed at the Ninety Mile Beach at 7.29 p.m. on Thursday night, flying on to Auckland yesterday morning. Arrival at New Zealand

In detailing their experiences the airmen said that the trip was without particular incident. Land was first sighted in two -directions after 13 hours flying and it was decided to make north. It was then discovered that. they wore hundreds of miles off their course and at the Three Kings, north of New Zealand. After circling the islands they made south again and eventually landed at East Beach at 6.35 p.m.

There were no signs of habitation and it was decided to stay the night. There was enough petrol left for three and a-half or four hours' flying, and at dawn]they had no difficulty in taking off and flying to the West Coast came down to Mangere at 7.10 yesterday morning.