ULM INTERVIEWED
SAW FEW STEAMERS MANY CONGRATULATIONS. [ Per Press Association. ] NEW PLYMOUTH, Dec. 4. In an interview, Mr. Ulm said that the flight was a joyride and the most perfect night flight he had ever made. Speaking of the departure from Sydney, Mr. Ulm said that they were fortunate considering the very unsettled weather all the week, to get a break which justified them in starting. The meteorological arrangements had been good throughout, and the report they made was justified by the conditions experienced. They took off from Richmond at 7.25 p.m. (New Zealand time), and with a run of 800 yards the ’plane was in the air. For a start they were faced with a strong head wind, but the meteorological reports had indicated that at a height of 7000 feet the effect of tho wind would be much less, and this proved to be a correct forecast. On the ground the wind was very strong and on the surface of the sea it was about 30 miles an hour. When they reached 7000 feet the wind had almost dissipated entirely and the trip was practically uneventful; it had, in fact, been a delightful ride and the ladies had enjoyed themselves enormously.
The flight, was made at a mean altitude of approximately 6000 ft. to 7000 ft. The ’plane travelled above a big bank of clouds most of the time, but visibility was good and the fliers had tho cloud horizon throughout the trip. When the sun went down the moon was rising, but with nightfall they lost sight of tho sea, which was not seen again till daylight, when they got occasional glimpses through the clouds.
Tho “Faith in Australia” had behaved beautifully all the way, and at times short sleeps were taken by the ladies, who at other times indulged in a game of cards. The first sight of New Zealand came at about 7.50 a.m. (New Zealand time) when the party saw away to their right the point of Cape Farewell. Miss Rodgers had the honour of first sighting Egmont, the ’plane then being about 130 miles from the const. They had a good view of the lofty peak, though there was a thick bank of cloud on its northern slopes. The average speed throughout the flight was about 95 miles per hour ground speed. “When we took off,” said Mr. Ulm, “we never had the least doubt that we would get to New Zealand.” Messrs. Ulm, Allen, and Boulton all took turns in tho cockpit, but there was nothing in the business, said Air. Ulm. Lt was just a matter of sitting there and flying. Tho ’plane had a 260-gal-lon tank in the cabin and the wing had an 860-gallon capacity. They left Australia with 700 gallons of petrol, which was sufficient for a 21 hours’ trip at 100 miles an hour. They landed in under 14J hours with a spare flying range of 650 miles. There seemed to be little shipping along the route, and, while several vessels were about the New (South Wales coast, they saw nothing further until i near the coast of New Zealand. Most of the ships they saw or were in touch with were within 600 miles of Sydney. The “Faith in Australia” did not deviate much from her course. Mr. Ulin asked that his appreciation should be expressed to everybody who had co-operated in the undertaking. His special thanks were extended to the officials of the New Plymouth Aero Club, it was marvellous to sec such a splendid aerodrome and to know that it was being enlarged sufficiently to make it a practical landing ground for every kind of aircraft for the future. Among those who greeted Air. Ulm <>n his arrival at New Plymouth was Major J. Wilkes (Director of Air Services), and during an interview there arrived at tho hotel an old friend and companion of former flights in the (Southern Cros, Air. H. AlcWilliams. A largo bundle of telegrams was handed to the aviator during the interview, these containing messages from Lord Bledisloe—“Welcome to New Zealand. Hearty congratulations on your exploit.’’ The Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes sent a message: "On behalf of the New Zea-
land Government I extend to you and your companions hearty congratulations on your flight across the Tasman. Your achievement again demonstrates tho practicability of his further link between the sister Dominions and a very cordial welcome awaits you here.’’ Other telegrams included messages from Sir Charles Statham (Speaker), Air. Wilfred Kingsford (Smith, Air. D. Ardell (Internal Affairs), several aero clubs of tho Dominion, the Returned Soldiers’ Association, and Sir Henry Wig ram. Among the articles carried over Australia were letters from Messrs. J. A. Lyons and B. R. Stevens (Commonwealth anti State Premiers) to Air. Forbes. Another interesting article was a greenstone carving of New Zealand and Australia, presented to him on the first Tasman flight of the Southern Cross. When it became known that he was again coming to New Zealand, the Christchurch returned soldiers, who made the presentation five years ago, made a request that he should carry the trophy with him, so that they might add a bar to the memento when he came to Christchurch.
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Bibliographic details
Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 287, 5 December 1933, Page 5
Word Count
870ULM INTERVIEWED Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 287, 5 December 1933, Page 5
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