AVIATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 January 1928, Page 2

AVIATION.

TASMAN FLIGHT STARTED THIS MORNINC. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association. [Extraordinary.] SYDNEY, Jan. 10. The aviators hopped off at 2.44 this morning. MESSAGE FROM MOXCRTEFF. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) WKLLIXTOX. January 9. A cable received in Wellington today from the New Zealand airmen Moncrieff, reads: Weather still dull hope to leave during next two days. W Machine ready. Hood definitely ing. Many New Zealand congratulatory cables. Thank «dl. WIRELESS RECEIVED. WELLINGTON, Jan. 10. Bp til! a quarter to nine signals were received from the aeroplane regular:.,at Wellington. A stoppage was then experienced but communications wit'Sydney elicited the fact that they were still being heard there. The stoppage here was only temporary, as the signals are again being heard. The break must have been due to atmospherics. UNEXPECTED START. SYDNEY, Jan. 10. A favourable weather report received at a late hour last night, decided the flyers unexpectedly to start, after an announcement earlier in the daj that they would not do so. This decision was not reached until towards midnight. Tlie Maunganui experienced exceptionally fine weather on the voyage from Wellington. She reports at 3.10 in the morning when about fifteen miles off the coast, the aviators were dimly (liseernable at dawn as they passed overhead at a considerable height. The engine sounded as if it wero working perfectly.

GOING WELL. GISBORNE, Jan. 10. A wireless from the Aotearoa picked up by O’Meara at 11.45 said: “ All going well.” WHERE TO LAND. WESTPORT, January 9. Keen interest is being taken in Westport in the Tasman flight. For weeks past, with the exception of one day the weather has lieen glori mislv fine, with cloudless skies, as far over the Tasman as the eye can reach. If the aviators could only pierce the fringe of rough weather on the Australian Coast, it looks as if they would run into ideal conditions when approaching New Zealand. 'Should thev reach Westport in the afternoon they will have a good landing ground on the North Beach, where Captain Buckley and Harrington made their taking off and landing place during a prolonged visit to Westpor .

THE TAKE-OFF. SYDNEY, Jan. 10. The aviators hopped off for New Zealand at 2.44. When the engine was started up at two this morning it was found that an over supply of lubricating oil had been pumped into the containers, the overflow, choking some vital points of the machine. The trouble was soon remedied and at 2.40 Monerioff and Hood took their places hi the machine. Moncrieff as pilot gave the order to start, the chocks > were pulled out from the wheels, the propeller revolved and at 2.44 with the engine rcvoß'ing at cruising speed, the pilot waved his hand as a signal of departure. The ‘‘all clear” was given and the monoplane taxied into the open space of tlie aerodrome, and within one hundred yards had risen and turned direct for Now Zealand, and within a few minutes was lost to sight. Sound tests (before leaving showed the wireless was in proper working order. Hood and Moncrieff expressed themselves as alisolutely physically fit and in good spirits. They said they were ready to undertake the journey cheerfully and confidently.

Messages were sent to the airmen's wives .stating they expected to be with them in Wellington to-night. The Stute Meteorologist was at the aerodrome with a .specially prepared weather report. He said as iar as he could make out the weather was particularly favourable. Weather reports were received iron! New Zealand by wireless till 0.30 this morning also from ships at sea. The distance to a landing place in New Zealand is estimated at 1430 miles. At 100 miles an hour the journey would take over 14 hours, bringing the landing time to about 7.14 o’clock to-night Sidey time. SINGAPORE, Jan. 9. Lancaster departed ;en route for Batavia. He hopes to fly back to England from Australia over the same route. LIND BER G H A R RIV ES. PANAMA, Jan. 9. Lindbergh arrived to-day from San .lose. AIR. ROUTES. MOSCOW, Jan. 9. Nansen’s collaborators informed the International Society of Arctic Airship Study that the organisation of two trans-Polar flights has commenced. The first is proposed from Leningrad to Murmansk, North Pole, and Alaska, returning via Siberia. The second involves the linking up of Berlin and Tokin via Leningrad.