A QUICK FLIGHT.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20107, 10 December 1930, Page 13

A QUICK FLIGHT.

A UCKL AND-SOCKBURN. WIRELESS TEST CARRIED OUT. A Fairey lII.F. aeroplane, piloted by Squadron-Leader L. M. Isitt, -which, left the Hobsonville Air Base at 9.5 a.m. arrived at the Wigram Aerodrome at 3.45 p.m. yesterday. A stop of one hour five minutes was made at Blenheim for lunch. Squadron-Leader Isitt was accompanied by Mr Gibbs, of Christchurch, who acted as wireless operator. Throughout the flight Wing-Commander GrantDalton (Director of Air Services) waa in constant touch with the aeroplane by means of wireless messages sent out by Mr Gibbs. The machine left the Hobsonvill* Aerodrome at 9.5 a.m., its speed being 90 knots. At 9.25 a.m. it was flying over the Waikat© Heads, where the visibility was poor. At 9.44 Raglan was seen from a height of 1000 and ten minutes later the aeroplan® was flying over Genet Island at a height of 2000 feet. The coastline was followed for some distance, and at 10.10 a.m. the Mokau. river, bordering the Taranaki and Auckland provinces, wai sighted. At 10.15 a.m. the machine passed over Whiteeliffs. New Plymouth was sighted at 10.38 a.m., and up to that time the journey from Auckland had occupied only one hour and a half. After circling over New Plymouth the aeroplane continued its flight, and at 11.5 a.m. it passed over Inglewood. The visibility waa still poor? but by the time Wanganui was sighted the conditions had improved. After circling over "Wanganui, which was reached at 11.30 a.m., the machine proceeded and by mid-day had passed over Levin. Otaki was reached at 12.5 p.m., and at 12.18 p.m. Wellington was sighted. The aeroplane passed over Wellington at 12.23 p.m., and arrived at Blenheim, where a stop was made for lunch, at about 12.55 p.m. The machine left Blenheim again at 2 p.m. and landed at the Wigram Aerodrome at 3.45 p.m. During the latter part of the trip the machine was in 1 wireless communication with SquadronLeader J. L. Findlay, Officer Commanding the Wigram Aerodrome, as well 'a* with Wing-Commander Grant-Dal ton, in Wellington. t A flying speed of about 110 miles pap hour was averaged throughout the trip.