BLAZING

Wairarapa Daily Times, 18 April 1935, Page 5

BLAZING

CQMMEWAIIf LINE AMERICA TO HONOLULU. Preßß Association Electric Telegraph—Copyright ALAMEDA (California), Tuesday. Blazing the trail for a commercial lino to the Orient, a Pan-American Airways clipper ’plane hoppbd 1 off at 3.50 p.m. on the first leg of the journey to Honolulu. The plane, which is named Pioneer, lias four motors, with a total of 2800 horse-power and a crew of six, captained by. Mr Edwin O. Musick, who has spent 22 years in commercial aviation. He has never had a serious accident in 10,000 hours, and more than 1,000,000 miles of flying. Tho others in tlie crew are Chief Pilot R. O. D. Sullivan, second in command, who took off; Engineering Officer Victori Wright, Navigation Officer Fred Noonan, Junior Flight Officer Harry Canaday, Radio Officer Turner Jarboe, jun. The plane raced along the surface for a quarter of a mile, lifting in 30 seconds. Weather conditions were ideal. Its cruising speed is 150 to 160 miles an hour, and it is expected to reach Honolulu in 16 to 18 hours.

A new radio compass, developed after tests by the Lindbergs, was carried. Stations at Alameda and Keneobe Bay, Hawaii, began sending directional signals. Tho clipper weighed 41,500 pounds and carried 3000 gallons of gasoline and 300 gallons of oil, enough to take her 3200 miles. She also carried 102 pounds of mail. Her passenger capacity is 52. PLIGHT COMPLETED. (Received Thursday, 9.35 a.m.) HONOLULU, Wednesday. Tho clipper ’plane landed at Pearl Harbour, completing the flight in 18 hours 36 minutes.