Musick Pleased

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 62, 31 March 1937, Page 5

Musick Pleased

— Pren Association.)

. FLIGHTS TO N.Z. PRACTICABLE

More Survey Work on Return Journey WELCOME APPRECIATED

(Bv Telecraph

AUCKLAND, This Day. "Ihe trip to Auckland was only oue stage of the survey flight," said Captain Edwin C. Musick, in an interview. " We skall attach equal importance to the return trip from the viewpoint of coHecting data for any future coinmercial service and, oa our return, the reports of our various experts wiil be collated and forwarded to the company. I caanot express aii official opinion, T>ut from the flying pojnt of view it seems to xne that a trip across the Pacific is just as practicable as a flight to the Orient," Captain Musick said that from Pago Pago they flew at an average of about 8000 feet most of the way. It was an uneventful trip. They struck a good deal of cloud at intervals and at times had to elimb to 10,000 feet and then eome down again. "There was just a wido expanse of sea, cioud and sunshine following pne another," he said. 440nce or twice we eame down- below the clouds and could see flying fish. We worked several ships during the trip. Glimpses of islands in the Tongan group were* had buf the Kermade cs 1 were clouded over. 4 4 Cloudy weather was encountered as we neared the New Zealand eoast and several rain-showers were experienced. The flrst eight of land was when we picked up a fairly high mountain north of Auckland. We altered our course slightly and passed between the Great Barrier and t..e Little Bafrier islands. ' ' Captain Musick paid tribute to the untiring work of *the expert staffs of Pan-American Airways at various plaees along the route. 4 'Long-distance flying is now an exact science," added Captain Mueick. ffhe establishment of a meteorological station on the Kermadee Islands will be invaluable in the operation of a full commercial service. I am most favonrably impressed with ihe expanse of ■v^ater available for landing in Auckland haTbcwr. We all appreeiated the • welcome that Auckland gave us," he conelucfed.