FORMER FLIGHTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 246, 17 October 1936, Page 9

FORMER FLIGHTS

EIGHTEENTH CROSSING ONLY ONE TRAGEDY Although eleven flights have now been made across the Tasman from Australia to New Zealand, Miss Jean Batten’s epic flight marks the third solo effort and the fourth journey in a single-engined machine. Seven trips have been made from New Zealand to Australia, Mr F. C. Chichester, who made his flight in stages, being the only solo flier, and the late Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and the late Charles Ulm the only pilots to make a double crossing. It will be remembered that the first attempt to fly the Tasman from Australia to New Zealand was made by two New Zelanders, Hood and Moncrieff, in a single-engine machine, on January 9, 1929. They wore sighted en route by the Maunganui, but their fate has remained an unsolved mystery. Later, during the same year, Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and the late Charles Ulm made the first crossing of the Tasman Sea from Australia in the tri-motored Fokker. Southern Cross, landing in Christchurch after a flight of 14 hours 25 minutes. After a tour of the Dominion, the intrepid pilots took off on the return journey from Blenheim, and after a hazardous trip, which occupied close on 23 hours, arrived safely in Australia. The two pilots made six trips each to New Zealand and return in the Southern Cross and the Faith in Australia. The first solo flight was made in January, 1931, when Mr Guy Menzies took off unexpectedly for New Zealand in the Southern Cross Junior, a single-engine Avro Avian, which he had purchased from “Smithy” two weeks earlier. The greatest secrecy was maintained regarding his flight, and it was not until he was actually in the air that his destination was known. He overturned his ’plane in a swamp at Harihaci (West Coast) on landing 12 hours 12 minutes after leaving Australia. A number of flights between Australia and New Zealand were made by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and Mr Charles Ulm. England to New Zealand The first flight from England to New Zealand was made in 1934 by Squadron-Leader J. D. Hewitt and Flying-Officer G. E. Kay, when they crossed the Tasman in the Rapide Dragon “Tainui” at the conclusion of the Melbourne Centenary Air Race. They struck the coast of New Zealand near Westport and made a night landing at Palmerston North, where the ’plane was slightly damaged as a result of over-running the aerodrome. Their time was 12 hours 14 minutes. Probably the most hazardous

was that made by Messrs R. G. Whitehead and E. R. Nichol! in a single-engine Fuss Moth in November. 1934. just after Howitt, and Kay’s crossing. The Puss Moth was fitted with extra petrol tanks and during the flight they were forced to sit on rubber cushions on top of an 18-inrh board with thoir backs against a petrol tank. The matter of a changeover in the control of the machine was a difficult task, as one pilot had to dip down from his seal and. with his legs doubled up. allowed his companion to crawl over the top of him. They landed on a North Auckland beach and flew on to Mangere the next morning. The last solo flight of the Tasman was made in October, 1935. when the late Mr W. M. O'Hara (Pilot “X”) landed at Mangere in a low-winged Klemm Eagle, after a flight which occupied 12 hours 47 minutes. He, too. made a night landing at Auckland. and slightly damaged his undercarriage.