AERIAL NAVIGATION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 23 December 1927, Page 5

AERIAL NAVIGATION.

AUSTRALIA TO N.Z. A NEW ZEALAND ENTERPRISE. (By Telegraph —Press Association.) DANNEVIRKE, This Day. Two New Zealand airmen, Lieut. J. R. Moncrieff (Wellington) and Captain G. Hood (Masterton), quietly left Wellington by the Maunganui on December 9th with the object of flying across the Tasman. Both men have been approved by the Director of Air Service as qualified pilots. They were accompanied by Captain T. L. Knight (Dnnnevirko), who has been closely associated with the scheme and was largely responsible for its initiation. The money for tHe venture has been privately subscribed throughout New Zealand, J. MeCroric (Dunedin), uncle of Lieut. Moncricff, being the principal backer. The machine, which has been landed at Melbourne, is similar to the one in which Lindbergh 'flew the Atlantic, and has been furnished by flic Ryan Air Line, U.S.A. It is equipped with a Wright Whirlwind .1.3 engine, and carries 200 gallons of gasoline. The distance across the Tasman is estimated at 1430 land miles, and it is estimated that the flight will be accomplished in 14 hours, although the men will have cruising power for 20 hours. The ’plane carries a rubber raft, earth inductor, compass and wireless. The Australian Government has promised every assistance to the licensed pilots in the aircraft authorised by the New Zealand Government, this assurance having been obtained through the New Zealand Government from the Rt. Hon. Stanley Bruce at the initiation of the scheme. A trial flight will be made from Melbourne to Sydney, and the aviators propose to hop off for New Zealand as soon as the meteorological conditions are fa vourable.