THE PACIFIC FLY

Hokitika Guardian, 23 November 1927, Page 3

THE PACIFIC FLY

GILES HOBS OFF. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received this day at 9.30 a.m.) SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 22. Giles hopped off for Honolulu and New Zealand at 7.24 this morning. It is estimated it will take 26 hours to complete the first stage via the great circle route. Twenty ships- scattered along the route have been requested to report progress. The weather conditions are fair.

Th e Marine Department ami San Francisco Chamber of Commerce received a message that Giles passed over San Francisco light ship, nineteen miles out at sea. sixteen minutes after his departure, flying at an altitude of approximately a thousand loot. Giles spent the night at the flying field.

The United States Weather Bureau issued a favourable report on the conditions, after which preparations were immediately made for departure. Giles, long before dawn was in tbe highest spirits. The sky was clear and a light wind was blowing when be left Wamla. He made a splendid take-off rising in the air after going down the runway about fifteen hundred feet, whirl) is a much shorter distance than the previous attempt, despite the r.iuddv runway. ' SAN FRANCTSCO. Nov. 22. Giles’ plane gained elevation rapid 1 He travelled south for a short distance and then swung round and followed the shore line toward Golden Gate. Barelv a hundred persons were present at the field at the departure, due to the early hour. Giles carried four sandwiches, a pint of milk, and six quarts of water, also condensed army rations.

As on the previous start, he left the rubber life raft behind to save weight, hut took a life jacket and hack saw, with which to cut away the motor if lie dropped into the sea. He will also lie able to empty the tanks iii 2 minutes. with emergency valves, after which it is believed the plane would stay mnnv hours afloat. (tiles thanked Mills Field officials before leaving, for the assistance rentiered. Captain Peterson stated tlint ll Giles reached Honolulu safely lie would leave on the first boat. Giles will be out of touch until be reaches Honolulu, unless lie is sighted by one of the ships winch are reported at present to lie on the great circle route. These are the Million. Venture. Ondo, Tenyo, Mam nml President Garfield. SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 22. Giles is expected to fly at a speed of from 95 to 100 miles an hour Ho appeared jubilant before tho take off and showed no nervousness. As tie climbed into the cockpit be waved farewell to bis friends who gathered at the side of the run-wav. He flew without helmet or goggles and threw the helmet that Peterson had brought for him, out of the plane just before it started to move. He said he would flv at a moderately low altitude unless be oncounterod bad weather, in which event ho would try to climb above the storm. He carried with him a picture of Wanda Hess, sister of the ’plane designer. There are reports that Giles to Miss Hess, but Giles refused to comment. Half a dozen bulbs on the instrument boards will furnish lights during the night. He has planned to fly low if he sights a vessel on the trip and drop a message on dock. Captain Voortmeyer. a member of the Sa.n Francisco Airport Commission, prepared elaborate charts for Giles, showing appt iximately the positions of ships at sea and the times lie should meet them.