A FAMOUS-AVIATOR

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 6, 2 October 1920, Page 8

A FAMOUS-AVIATOR

SIR KEITH. SMITH INTERVIEWED

POSSIBILITIES OF COMMERCIAL FLIGHT SEAPLANES BEST FOR NORTH ISLAND Among the most, daring and memorablo feats in aviation since man attempted to aspire the clouds," that of Sir Ross and Sir Keith Smith, in flying from England to Australia, will ever remain an achievement of the most sporting and determined character. Sir Keith Smith, a virile, alert, young man, slim built, and active, and a fluent talker, arrived in Wellington last evening. Questioned as to tho utility of tho aeroplane for commercial purposes 'lie admitted that outside dispatch and urgent work, the aeroplane would take a long time in coming into anything, like p-cn-oral use. Olio thing that militated against it>-and ho would like to see it commercialised as much as possible—was its cost. The engines could not be cheaply made, everything on any 'plane had to be well made to ensure any degree -■of safety. Then having got your aeroplane, the upkeep was most expensive. They had to be constantly overhauled. That was only natural owing to theii light construction and the possibility ol a fault occurring. Then, after every 10? hours' flight, tho whole engine had to be taken down and very thoroughly overhauled ag an ordinary precaution. Australia and New, Zealand, too, were dependent on -Aflieriea for their petrol p-'nilics, and petrol was not getting an\ cheaper—one had to pay what was asked, and there was ail end of it. It. might ba possible to pick tip cheap machines at Home now, but that was only the first cost. It was like a motor-car—the initial cost was only tlie start.

Asked as to the suitability of New Zealand for flying, Sir 'Keith Smith said that he had only seen part of the North Island, and was not at all impressed with it as a flying ground. It was very rough, and tho places suitable for aerodromes were, as far as he had been able to see, few and far between. People generally had a cramped idea as to the ar&i noeded for an aerodrome, and he instanced little flats which had betai pointed out to him as possible 'dromes. Usually they were' between hills: That was bad for flying, both, to get into and out of. In rising from such : places you would be up against the hills before you kn/iw where you were, and would have to spiral up to get out. The ruggedness of Wellington made him feel that it was not a vfery suitable place for flying. "I liave seen 6ome mountain ranges already that I would hot care to ,fly over as a steady thing," lie added, still referring to commercial flight. "For joy riding by onesttlf one does not care much about what one flies over, but in commerciar flying it was a matter of 'safety first.' If I crashttl it would only be myself that would suffer, but with passengers—well, an accident might easily set aviation back years, in a country like this. No, I have examined the map of New Zealand pretty, carefully, and have concluded that it 19 more euitablt! for the seaplane or flying 'boat... Take the map, with an aeroplane you naturally stick to the land—well, you seo what rough'country you would liavo to fly ov(er from Auckland to Wellington, With a seaplane you would come down the coast, fly over the North; Taranaki Bight, then across Taranaki (only some 50' or CO miles), and then across the South Taranaki Bight to Wellington." ■ In tho course of his chat Sir Keith Smith mentioned that an Australian airmail had asked him to have a look round, as he thought of flying over to New Zealand. It was a flight from land to land of a little over 900 miles, and quite possible—with the right; machmo and decent w|;ather conditions. Ho perronally had no intention of essaying the flight. After leaving New Zealand ho would return to Australia, and then leave for England, where h|> hoped to spend Christwas'. He had already signed ft contract to lecture in England, with the pictures of the flight from England, to A , astl ?™' His brother, Sir Boss Smith, Tjns leaving Australia for London in about tendays' time. Later on h(. and his brother intended to'publish a ° n flight, which, he was quito sure would prove interesting.

AT THE KING'S THEATRE

A FASCINATING PICTURE. A largo audience greeted Sir Keith Smith at tho King's Theatre last evening, and gave him a hearty welcome as he was ushered on to the., stage by the Hon. J. G. Coated. The Minister, in introducing the visitor, explained that ho represented tho Hon. Mr. Massey, who lyas dotained at the House on important business. Ho sincerel) and mcst heartily greeted Sir Keith Smith, and. expressed on behalf of the Governmen the warmest admiration of tlio historic achievement he and his gallant brother had made in flying from England to Australia. It was with great gratification that they had all followed the race from point to point, to see the Australians Successful. The feat would go down in the history not enly of Aus-, tralasia, but of England and the Empire, as one of the greatest n cl "e™ments of, all time. (Applause.) He, on behalf' of the Government, welcomed Sir Keith Smith heartily to New Zealand, and . hoped that he would hai, e a happy time whilst he was here. (ApKeith Smith thanked the Hon. Mr. Coates tnd the Government for their kind welcome. The flight they had mado was really the cfiort _ of four pelsons, his brother, himself, and that two gallant mechanics, Messrs. Bennett and Sbiers. It would have been impossible if one had dropped out (of the job, not Hie 'plane), for he and his brother did the flying, which was only , made poo&ible hv the energy and untiring care , the mecESia £& given to the engines. Thev cculd not have done without Sjlnera and Bennett, and the mechanics 'I'oukl not have done without thoni. Applau®) But after all the machine was a big factor-it was a wondoriul machine-all British and thev learned to appreciate hat British workmanship meant. (Applause.) They had been well treated everywhere. Sometimes thera was a little too much hospitality—(laughter)—^but tlie spirit of helpfulness was always there aaid they * The "pictures shown give an, i interesting snap-shotted narrative of the big flight from tho start on a bitter cold, snowy morning on Hounslow Heath, to tho triumphant arrival at Dai win, Sjdnev, Melbourne, and finally Adelaide Tlio Australian section was faut and glimpses of Darwin from ihe blue, peeps at native and pioneer life in the wayback, the breakdown at Chailevillc, the engines euro at Ipswich, and thon a soriea of wonderfully clear yet strangely fantastio birds-eye views ,of Sydney s beautiful harbour, suburbs, and the city ilself. Top view 'movies of tho approach and anrival in Melbourne and Adelaide ulso evoked lively wtwsst. Then Sir Keith Smith returned to tho platform to review tho trip as the kinema showed beautiful views of the peaks of tho Swiss Alps, Rome, Greece, Suvl-a Bay, «-nd Cairo, with occasional excursions into tho wonders of cloudland. From Cairo, the picture was wntin.ue.Cj to the Suez Canal, then across tho Sinai Desert, Missed over Gaza, to Jorusalem (with the Holy Sepulchre and the '<arden of Mliscroanc in full view), thence (o Jericho. Damascus, across the Jordan and the Moabito Mountains to Bagdad, mid on te Kut EI Mara and Basra. Further moving pictures showed the progress through India, • Iliirmali. Straits Settlement, Java, and finaliv— Darwin. Sir Keith Smith s accompft»yi»i£ lecturft was bright nnd interosting * throughout, nnd came with especial graco from him tw one of those who had participated in the long flight from llio Northern Star to the Southern Cvosc. A Gauniont Graphic nnd the King's excellonl: orchestra made the programme a notable one. Tho flight picture will be shown again tills afternoon «ud evening.

THE CIVTO RECEFITON.

A civic reception will be accorded Sir Keith Smith bv the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) at 11 o'clook this morning in the Concert Chamber.