AVIATION

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 8 December 1927, Page 8

AVIATION

CAPTAIN SMITH’S PLANS. STRUCTURAL REVISION OF ’PLANE. San Francisco, Dec. 6. A delay of some days is likely before Captain Kingsford-Smith makes another attempt at an endurance record flight. The tail flutter which terminated the two previous efforts is being thoroughly investigated. Captain Smith and Lieutenant Pond attribute it to air conditions, but some engineers say the shifts are directly attributable to the load, which was nearly 16,0001b5. The elevators and rudder are now being removed from the 'plane and will be structurally revised. It is not certain whether this will delay the projected flight to Australia. Some of Smith’s advisers counsel him strongly to await better trans-o’cean weather before beginning the journ« ;to Australia, unless he can get away with the December full moon, or at most within a day or so thereafter, this means before, the 10th or 12th instant at the latest.

It is understood that since Smith’s arrangement with his backers called for an endunance flight before the trans-ocean take-off, he may not be able to nrnke the longer journey until the moon has waned considerably ,thus adding to the period of total darkness though which he must fly.-—(A. and N.Z.)