AVIATION

Hokitika Guardian, 2 June 1928, Page 3

AVIATION

Australian Preas Assn.—United Service

BERLIN, May 31

Wilkins states he proposes to use flame throwers in the Antarctic, in order to melt the ice and make a smooth track for the aeroplane to rise, thus overcoming the greatest difficulty of a Polar flight, but the Versailles Treaty forbids Germany to make flame throwers. Wilkins proposes to ask the Allied Government’s consent to the manufacture of a few. LONDON, May 31. A wireless message from Baghdad states the missing inglcsias landed at Nasirabad described as within two hour flight of Karachi. There is immense relief.

ELEVEN HOURS GOING. SAN FRANCISCO, May 31

At eight p.m. to-day (Thursday) the monoplane “Southern Cross,” reported her location as being: Latitude, 31.55 degrees north; longitude, 138.10 degrees west. Then she was approximately 950 miles south-west of San Francisco.

The fliers had previously signalled, at 7.25 p.m. “Speed 75 miles hourly, altitude 4000 ft. We passed through a pocket and dropped clown a. bit, hut we are now going at GOO metres. SAN FRANCISCO, June 1.

At 9.36 p.m. the message indicated that the Southern Cross had passed the half-way point to Honolulu. Her engines were then working perfectly and the crew wore in the best of spirits.

The message stated: “Fog, which has lx?en somewhat troublesome, is now of slight consequence Our speed averaged seventy knots per hour.” Tlic plane has now passed through the “danger spot,” where the accidents in the previous Hawaiian flights arc believed to have occurred.

Preparations are going forward at Honolulu to greet the flivrs early today (Friday).

RADIO FADES OUT. SAN FRANCISCO, June 1. A Mnckny radio message at 10 p.m. said that the Southern Cross radio had “gone out,” but whether purposely or not could not be determined.

A later message stated that the Southern Cross radio came in again at 11.30 but the operator did not send the message. The Frisco Examiner announced that at 11.40 o’clock the Southern Cross was calling, but that interference prevented the receipt of the message.

At 12.40 a.m. on Friday the following message from the Southern Cross was picked up here: “Everything O.K. Stand by.” WELT.IINGTON, J-.,nc 1.

The Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department has received the following from the Radio at Awanui: TJie following has been intercepted from tfie Southern Cross, on a 33 metres wave, at 10.52 p.m. It begins: “Just flew over the Maliko and the Manoa. Everything O.K. Seven hundred miles to go.’’ Tfie Maliko is a Matson Line freight steamer. KTNGSFORD SMITH PROGRESSING (Received this day at 8 a.m.) HONOLULU, June 2. At seven, a report was received from the steamer Manoa that the Southern Cross was 800, miles from Honolulu at 2.00 Pacific standard time. The plane passed the Maliko.

THE JOURNEY. (Received this day nt 9.30 a.m). HONOLULU, li-.ne 1. As the first streaks of dawn set a glow on the Hawaiian Islands the Southern Cross was four hundred miles from her goal, the first, lap of its flight to Australia. AA'itli the approach of the fliers most intense interest in the history of t.runs-Paoifie flights gripped tins city, and the crowded road to AA heeler Field represented a moving caravan of hundreds of automobiles bent on witnessing the arrival of the Australians at 0.30 a.m.

The Southern Cross wired: “Sighted land. The plane is making good time. Weather fine.”

A message at 6.50 stated: “Ihe clouds are fooling us, thought: unsighted land but guess not; can fly for hours more. Tbe radio inception is out of order.”

HONOLULU, June 1

Early this morning the Southern Cross radioed: “Guess we’ve lost our radio battery at dawn. Please get ship with receiver; get our bearings on my seven forty wave. AA ill keep going so they can track us.”

ARRIVAL AT HONOLULU,

(Received this day at 8.50 a.m.) HONOLULU, June 1

The Southern Cross passed the steamer Manoa at 3.35 a.m. Pacific standard time,‘an hour and a half ahead of schedule time, at a speed of eighty miles am hour and at an altitude of 4,400 feet. She was then 750 miles from Honolulu and on her true course. The weather is perfect. As it passed the ship the ’plane discharged rockets, displayed a. strong, light, wired host wishes, asked for the baseball scores, and stated the motors and crew were O.K. The airmen expect to arrive at Honolulu at 10 a.m.

HONOLULU, June 1. The Southern Cross landed at Wheeler Field at 9.49 a.m.

SAN FRANCISCO, June I

When the Southern Cross was three hundred miles from Wheeler Field, the speed was more than one hundred miles an hour and increased as the islands drew near.

HONOLULU, June 1

The Southern Cross radioed when 105 miles out “Have just cnouh gas to make it.”

A BEAUTIFUL TRIP,

TIME 27 HOURS 27 MINUTES,

/ (Received this day* at 9.30 a.m.) HONOLULU. June 1

Kings ford Smith on landing ‘aid “We had a beautiful trip; no trouble ; at all. We will continue as planned to Suva.” The fliers were tired and nappj. They left the field immediately for their hotel. Navigator Lyon said;—‘Me woie never lost, but we lost the radio beacon three hundred miles out from San Francisco and never picked it up The time occupied for the trip was twenty-seven hours, twenty-seven minutes.

FURTHER PARTICULAlIS. SAN FRANCISCO, June 1

Lfc messages from the airmen stated, the crew took their meals rogularly. frequently drinking stimulating draughts of coffee from thermos bottles. Ulm was at the controls for a period after midnight, while Smitn first slept, then operating the radio, Warner had been sending constantly from the Lime of the take-off til! Smith relieved him.

WIRELESS BEARINGS PICKED UP HONOLULU, June 1. A mutual wireless received message states tllat the Southern Cross got her hearings from the cruiser lticiunon<* fiTJtj reported jiwl sighted.

SEARCH FOR ITALIA. LONDON, May 31. A wireless from the “Citta di Mila no” search party at King’s Bay on 3lst states:—We landed at Southgate and are slowly progressing in the direction of Mossell Bay but cannot arrive before 4th June. Owing to terrible weather aerial reconnaissances ■cannot begin before 7th June, as they' must be thoroughly considered and'organised in view of the tcachorousness of the region. There is no news from trappers at Fire Island and the coast as communication at present is .exceptionally difficult. The weather continues of the stormiest with north gales and blindy snow squalls.

RACE FOR SOUTH POLE. LONDON, May 30.

“The Times’s” Now York correspondent' states:—Captain Wilkins’s backers are a group of Detroit and I,os Angeles business men and they have opened headquarters at New York to prepare for Wilkins’ Antarctic: flight, in friendly competition with the Byrd expedition. Wilkins will be the City's guest during the week. He sails for New Zealand on September Ist from ban Francisco.

Byrd sails for New Zealand on August 15th from Hampton Roads. Both explorers expect to arrive at the Bay of Whales on December Ist next, where they will establish their aerial bases.

Byrd uses a tri-motored Ford plane. Wilkins’s plane will bo one similar to his last. one.

PACIFIC FLTEHS ROBBED. NEW YORK, May 30.

After their trial (light, when the fliers returned to their hotel at Oakland they found that their rooms had been robbed. Major Kingsford Smith has lost one hundred and forty dollars; airmail Ulin one hundred and sixty; Navigator Lyons, ono hundred, and Radioman Warner ninety dollars.

FLYING BOATS ARRIVE. (Received tiiis dny nt S a.m.} BROOME, June 1. The British flying boats have arrived and were enthusiastically welcomed. The four machines flew over the town iii perfect formation and all landed at the same instant.