PACIFIC AIRWAYS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 66, 19 March 1937, Page 8

PACIFIC AIRWAYS

TEST FLIGHTS BEGUN AMERICA TO AUCKLAND CUPPER SHIPS EN ROUTE (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copy right) , Received March 18, 11.29 p.m. SAN FRANCISCO, March 18. Test flights of the route from San Francisco to Auckland have begun. The Hawaii Clipper, with seven passengers and a crew of eight, left at 3.6 p.m. The American Clipper, piloted by Captain Musick and a crew of five, left at 4.19 p.m. The ships were farewelled ceremoniously and thousands watched their departure over the Golden Gate Harbour. JOURNEY OF THE CLIPPERS MESSAGES FROM CAPTAIN MUSICK. Received March IS. 11.22 p.m. SAN FRANCISCO. March 18. A North American Newspaper Alliance copyright message by Captain Musick states: “An hour after the take-off we sighted a ’plane moving over the eioud floor aft. It was that of Mrs. Putnam. Soon she will overtake the Hawaii Clipper. It was arranged that we both advance at a speed of ten knots above the arbitrary minimum set so as to assure her of a clear sky ahead on the long dash to Honolulu. The weather is clearing to the westward- There are high, cumulus clouds 12.000 feet overhead and rain squalls north and south. The sun. a great fiery ball, is ready to plunge into the clouds on the horizon. Our navigation will then shift to the stars until the dawn, off Hawaii, at the end of the first 2400 miles cf our flight to ‘oownunder.’ ”

The last message received by “The Chronicle” from Captain Musick, of the American Clipper, was that he was 980 miles off Honolulu. That Was at 11.39 p.m. Pacific time.

AUCKIAND GETS READY PREPARING TO RECEIVE CLIPPER LOCAL BODIES ACT CONJOINTLY [ Per Press Association, j AUCKLAND, March 18. Arrangements to receive the PanAmerican survey Clipper, at the conclusion of her flight from San Francisco to Auckland, are proceeding steadily and the Auckland Harbour Board, the Auckland Electric-power Board, and the City Council Traffic Department were engaged to-day in discussing preparations. All the necessary work will be completed in ample time, as it is not considered likely by Mr Harold Gatty, representative of the company in New Zealand, that the machine will reach Auckland before the middle of next week. A temporary base for the Clipper, between the Kings Wharf and the Devonport vehicular ferry landing, has begun to take shape. An area has been fenced off, moorings for a lanaing-barge were laid, two powerful floodlights installed, and massive bollards planted in the ground to take the mooring rope>. Further conferences took place between representatives of the company's stalf at present in Auckland and officers of interested local bodies, and the landing area was inspected by Mr Gatty in company with Mr j. Tyler (city engineer), Mr C. Blana (superintendent of traffic), and Mr W. R. Golden (traffic manager of the Auckland Harbour Board). Four launches are at the disposal of the company for use in connection with the arrival of the Clipper, a speedboat from the Hobsonville Air Base, a Harbour Board launch, and two pri-vately-owned craft. In the event of a light landing being necessarv thes« boats, together with others, will be lined up and suitably illuminated to •ndicate to the commander of the Clipper a clear runway in which to land.

The nature of the reception to be accorded Captain Musick and his crew has not yet been decided, but it will, necessarily, be brief as th? airmen will be anxious to rest after their long journey. It is likely that the chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board will receive the visitors and that, after a brief reply by Captain Musick they be driven to an hotel. Arrangements for an adequate welcome to Auckland on behalf of the citizens are in the hands of the Mayor, Mr Davis. A reception will probably take place on the day after the arrival of the Clipper.

MRS. PUTNAM LEAVES CLEAR WEATHER EXPECTED CLIPPERS LEAVE BEFORE HER Received March 18, 9 p.m. OAKLAND (CalifJ, March 17. Mrs Amelia Earhart Putnam departed on her round-the-world flight at 4.38 p.m. Pacific Time. She is making for Honolulu. The two PanAmerican Airways Clippers left shortly before her. The forecast is for clear weather, with the exception of northerly cross winds. Half an hour after the take-off Mrs. Putnam radioed “All's well!” Although the 7000-ieet runway was drenched with recent rain, Mrs. Putnam’s ship left the ground after a run of 1897 feet in 25 seconds. Mrs Putnam said goodbye to her husband in the privacy of the hangar and waved and smiled to the crowd which surrounded the ’plane. Pan-American Airways had arranged to share radio facilities with Mrs. Putnam, but she was forced to arrange a special transmitting schedule. Four hours after the take-off Mrs. Putnam had covered 700 miles, according to a radio message, passing both the Clipper ships.

“ALL’S WELL,” MRS. PUTNAM SAYS THE LATEST NEWS FROM HER ’PLANE Received March 19, 1 a.m. NEW YORK, March 18. Al midnight a coastguard station intercepted a message from Mrs. Putnam as follows: “Total of 1322 miles have been covered at an average speed of 165 statutory miles an hour.” She reported: “All’s well.” The last word received by “The Chronicle” from Mrs Putnam was that she was 746 miles off Honolulu and expected to reach there at 6.30.