AVIATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 January 1928, Page 3

AVIATION.

TASMAN FLIGHT NO TRACE. •(By Telegraph—-Per Press Association.) BLENHEIM, Jan. 12. Captain Buckley returned at 1.50 p.m. after a three hours and eight minutes’ search round Capo Jackson, ■over Stephen and Ivapiti Islands to Poston and hack. The visibility at sea was not good. He saw no trace of the •missing plane or of the airmen. AN AVIATOR’S VIEW. SYDNEY, Jan. 12. Major I)e Haviland, who inspected the Ao-Tc-Aroa at Melbourne, said unless the machine developed defects on A the journey, he considered it equal to task of crossing the Tasman. The plane impressed him as being most suitable for the flight and given ordiriary luck, lie could discover no,reason why it should not reach its destination. If it had been forced to descend on the sea and made a good landing, it shook) float for some hours, particularly if the airmen were able to empty the petrol tanks. Even if the machine crashed into the sea and the wings were broken, it should float for two or three hours.

SIR KEITH SMITH’S VIEWS. MELBOURNE, Jan. 12. Sir Keith Smith, referring to the flight expressed himself as more than ever convinced that such a flight should not have been undertaken, except in an amphibean machine. He says that although it was an all-metal machine, it does not necessarily mean it would 541X115. Towards the end of the flight the petrol tanks would he at least three-quarters empty and that would •mean considerable buoyancy. There is a possibility that the machine may still fiie .found floating. ff.M.S. DUNEDIN. AUCKLAND, Jan. 12. Although the H.M.S. Dunedin has received instructions for the warship to proceed in search of the missing aviators, the vessel was still in port at noon., (pending definite sailing orders. WARSHIP DEPARTS. AUCKLAND. Jan. 12. The warship Dunedin sailed in search •of ;the airmen shortly after noon. SUOV.AIEXT ON MINISTER’S STATEMENT.

WELLINGTON. January 12 Replying to a statement reported to liavo been made by Air Coates at 'Whangarci to the, 'effect that he had informed the aviators that lie considered thoir plans) were ill prepared. Air AfeNrcol, one of the trustees of the Tasman Flight, Fund, said he had no «3osiro to involve Air Coates in any rpnb’fic controversy as lie quite appreciated Ins good spirit towards the men .‘and bis desire for their safety. Mr AMcNcol says, however, it is somewhat •unfair to the aviators and those most •closely connected with the venture, to ■‘state their planes were ill prepared. ’To bis certain knowledge the only con'versation held by Afr Coates with the •aviators was the few minutes before ‘they sailed for Sydney. Air Coates did ijiot discuss the plans of the expedition with tho aviators or certainly not Ho such an extent as justified his statement. It was only fair to Air Coates Uo say lie never personally approved ■of the flight, nor was the Government • officially connected with it in any way.

|f jpDOHANCE FLIGHT ATTEMPT. (Australian it N.Z. Cable Association.) NEW YORK, Jan. 11. Cliamberlain anil Roger Williams hopped oil' in an attempt at an endurance (light record in a Hal lance monoplane, carrying 440 gallons of petrol. ATTEMPT FAILS. NEW YORK, Jan. 11. Chamberlain’s endurance attempt failed after four hours in the air due to a breakage of the fuel pump.