The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1928. CHEERFUL AVIATORS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 June 1928, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1928. CHEERFUL AVIATORS.

! With the Pacific Ocean flight to Suva j an accomplished fact, the Australian ! aviators have achieved a great feat, i They are the pioneers, and entitled to j all the credit and renown due to the ! path-finder. Captain Kingston! Smith | and his companions are cheerful souls ! with the true spirit. They made light of their pioneering voyage and of tlio task they had taken up. Withal they are cheerful aviators. Even from tho air they cracked their jokes, while before .setting out on their perilous voyage, they passed their quips and cranks with the easy grace of the unafraid. All the men have seen service with the forces so that their grit had been well tried. Their feat has been made remarkable because of the excellence of their equipment. Apart from the stability of their aeroplane which carried an unusual load across an unusual track, the addition'of wireless, and the supreme use made of it, is of outstanding interest. The experience and use to which, the wireless plant was put, stamps it as an essential part of the equipment for any extended journey such as the intrepid voyagers are engaged in. Not only has the radio been of service to advise the movements of the aeroplane, hut it has served also to pick up direction, and served to confirm the good work of the navigating officer, who in cloud and sunshine was able to keep his course with excellent judgment. Tho trans-Pacific, flight lias been contemplated for some time ppst. Preparations and negotiations extending over a period of close on a year have been in hand by the Australian airmen—Smith and Ulm. Hie first stage was to Honolulu, over a wide spread of water which has been the grave of several airmen. The next stage—the longest of the three—was to Suva, and the third stage is to Brisbane. Arriving in Australia no doubt the*airmen will tour their native continent, and it is not impossible that a flight to New Zealand may he attempted. At this season of the year the daylight is contracted, hut with the experience gained in the present journey, night flying will not have its terrors, and by leaving at a suitable time over night, New Zealand could he reached hefore the next day waned. This is one of tho possibilities of the present tour. The flight now in piogress illustrates the value of care and attention to jjdetn.il. It is manifest such trips can he undertaken only after the most lcareful study of .possibilities. Tho risks are many and the dangers always are imminent. The cheerfulness of the aviators was a factor of their enterprise. They had determined to conquer, and when all was readj to their satisfaction set out on theii journey prepared for their task with the feeling of victory dominant within themselves. The “Southern Cross as the aeroplane is so aptly named, is equipped with three engines, actually a good margin of safety, for two engines could keep the aeroplane in the air. The single engined machine was tried and had failed on the Honolulu flight previously, so Captain Smith assimilating the knowledge was fortunate in securing a three-engined Fokker, originally built for Sir Geoige Wilkins to use in the Arctic expedition. The crew is also a competent one. possessed of skill and resourcefulness, on top of which is the dauntless courage which has carried so many through a perilous undertaking. The journey accomplished over the Pacific by air route will be recorded to the honor and fame of the men whose praises will lie sung all round the world. The radio messages of the “Southern Cross” sent from so great a height as the voyage of the aeroplane permitted, must have been heard in many corners of the earth. The experience should be interesting as indicating further possibilities in long distance signalling, so that there will be lessons to bo learned under

heading. ~ Doubtless when the full story of the flight is recounted other phases will be told which will ho of interest and value to science and material advancement.