AVIATION

Hokitika Guardian, 11 June 1928, Page 2

AVIATION

ARRIVAL AT BRISBANE. (Australian Press Association.) BRISBANE, June 9. The great (adventure of the air, the crossing the Pacific from Oakland, California, to Brisbane, was brought to a glorious conclusion at the Eagle Farm Aerodrome tins morning, when tile Southern Cross was escorted by aeroplanes in triumph to the landing ground, and Captain Kingston! Smith and his companions set foot on Australian soil. AT SYDNEY YESTERDAY. SYDNEY, June 10. This morning at nine o’clock, large crowds assembled in the vicinity of Mascot Aerodrome to witness the arrival of the Southern Cross, which was due to arrive there at 3 p.m. from Brisbane. At this hour about five hundred thousand people had congregated at the grounds to welcome the aviators. The hill sides for miles around this vicinity were also lined with thousands of people. At 3 p.m. the Southern Cross was reported to be approaching Manly, and from there she was escorted by a fleet of other planes to the landing place. Alter hovering over the grounds for some minutes, the plane finally desoe.sded at 3.8 p.m. amidst indescribable enthusiasm. On alighting from the machine, the gallant aviators were “shot” by scores of photographers, and were at once driven to different parts of the grounds to allow the eager crowds to pay homage. Such wonderful scenes of wild enthusiasm were never before witnessed by Australian people. Eventually the airmen were officially welcomed on the grounds by the Governor of New South Vales, Mr S. M. 1 Juice (Premier *.of Australia), and other notables.

HANCOCK’S GENEROSITY. LOS ANGELES, June 8. As a token of friendship and a tribute to their successful flight to Australia, Captain G. Allen Hancock, of I.os Angeles .their financial hacker, has made a gift of the Southern Cross and a discharge of ail indebtedness to Captain Kingsford Smith and Mr Ulm. £SOOO DONATION. SYDNEY. June 10. Mr Bruce, Prime Minister, in a message to Captain Kingston! Smith at Brisbane, pays a tribute to the airmen’s great achievement, and announces that the Federal Government is contributing 65000. LONDON, June 9. Sir Granville Ryrio, on behalf of London Australians, lias cabled to Mr Bruce to convey their heartiest congratulations to Captain Kingsford Smill and his men, on their great achievement. ELM’S ACCOUNT SYDNEY, June 10. Ulin’s account of the flight from Suva to Australia states:— Between eight and eleven o’clock on Friday night, our plane passed through the worst period of the whole flight. Terrific rainxtoms, with violent bumps, caused great concern, one drop being four hundred feet.’

He says that they rose to a height of 7500 feet, but storm conditions still .surrounded the plane, which became difficult to control, sometimes needing two men at the controls. After that the airmen varied the altitude frequently between the five hundred and the nine thousand feet level. The weather was then warmer, though the men’s hands and feet were numbed with the cold of the upper air. At 9.50 a.in. yesterday, land was sighted, and Lyon got a shot with his sextant, so he was able to figure out his position. Five minutes later the coast line became clear, and the town of Baltina was just below the plane. Ulm says that for the present, the party do not desire to announce their plans for the future, though they hope to llv round Australia.

THE FEAT ACCLAIMED. NEW YORK. June 8. The safe arrival of the Southern Cross is acclaimed both as an achievement of valour and as a matter of great practical importance. The “NeuYork Times,” in a leading article, says: '•The chief value of the flight of the Southern Cross from. California to Queensland is the promise that the uay lias been blazed for a regular commeicial service. It no longer seems visionary. It was in keeping with the fitness of things that Australians and Americans should combine to fly the great ocean from coast to coast, but the enterprise was much more than a sporting event. Praise too high cannot be given to tbe men uTio provided tin- means and the men who essayed the venture, staking their lives against failure.”

COX (IRATE RATIONS SENT. WELLINGTON, June 9. Air Coates has sent the following message to the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth: “New Zealand desires to be the first to congratulate Australia upon the wonderful feat successfully accomplished by her intrepid sons and their companions in pioneering the air route across the vast expanse of the mighty Pacific Ocean. The Government and people of this Dominion join with the Commonwealth in rejoicing that this wonderful conquest has been achieved under the leadership of two gallant Australians. Remembering our comrade-hip in arms of Anzae days and other close associations as members of the great British family beneath the Southern Cross. Neu- Zealand is particularly proud and pleased that this cpoc-making flight has been made by her kinsmen on the other side of the Tasman Sea.

To Captain Kingsford Smith. Afr Coates sent the following cable: “All the citizens of New Zealand join M'ith the Government in expressing to you am! your gallant comrades our uaimest felicitations upon the successful termination of your splendid achievement. We offer you our heartiest congratulations on being the first to blaze the great Pacific Ocean air trail. Kia Ora.”

AMERICAN PRAISE. WASHINGTON, June 9. Referring to the flight, the AYashington Post says: The successful flight of the Southern Cross from San Francisco to Brisbane constitutes the most notable oceanic High’ yet accomplished. All sorts of records go to the credit of the fliers. It must be regarded as tinlast Mold in the art of aviation. Another notouorthy advance was the assistance given to tin- navigators ol the Southern Cross by radio beacons and signals. The effort ami tbe time devoted to tbe preparation of this (light have been well n-narded in the results. Air Wilbur (Secretary of the I .S.A. Maty) said: The flight- is a marvellous performance in air navigation, and a splendid indication of their airmanship. as well as a credit to the world of aviation. I have been Matching the Slight with great interest, and I am indeed glad to hear that they have succeeded in getting through. They are to be commended.

Tbe Neu York World, in a leading article, says: AA’ith a steadiness and a certainty suggesting the Mays of a

ship, but at four times the speed and more, the Southern Cross ploughed through the worst weather during the trip, and arrived at Brisbane. The Pacific is conquered, and its conquest may well remain the chief aviation event of the year. The fliers worked together harmoniously as a well-match-ed team, and they have well earned all the plaudits coming to them. Mr Maitland, the first California to Hawaii flier, said: Kingsford Smith and party’s flight is the greatest ever made in the history of aviation. I take off my hat to them. The difficulties they surmounted probably will never lie realised, but they have accomplished what has been generally acccptetd as impossible in the present state of aviation development. JOURNEY ENDED. ARRIVAL If SYDNEY. Yesterday afternoon the Southern Gross completed successfully its long and historic flight from San Francisco to Sydney. Particulars of the landing of the aeroplane at Mascot Aerodrome outside Sydney were broadcasted by 2FC station, and a connected story given to listeners-in. The 'plane was sighted over Manly, some II miles away, at 4.30 New Zealand time, and a few minutes later landed to a tumult of cheering. It was estimated half a million people were assembled for the occasion, the announcer stating Sydney was deserted. The relatives of the living men were at Mascot and also had a reception. A welcome was given by the Mayor of Mascot, and many notabilities were present. So great was tiie congregation of people and vehicles that it took hours to clear the ground after the event, and the place became a quagmire. Last night. Captain Kingsford Smith spoke briefly over the air from 2RL, thanking all for being so kind. Expressed pleasure that the trip was happily’ over, and tributed his “ pals,” specially mentioning the Americans. Also referred in very kindly terms to “ the two old people,” his parents, to whom he had earlier been describing his experiences.

RECEPTION AT SYDNEY. (Received this day at a.m.) SYDNEY, June 11. Thousands of people enjoying an outing at harbour and suburban resorts had a wonderful view of the Southern Cross as it reached Sydney. It came across the Heads and swooped over the city en route to Mascot Aerodrome, where 150,000 voices joined in a stupendous chorus of welcome to Kingsford Smith and his interpid comrades at the conclusion of the epoch flight. A giant Fokker led the escorting ’planes across the city and a landing was effected with wonderful facility. Smith’s father and mother were the first to welcome the airman as he stepped from the machine. Then Dim’s parents welcomed him. The Americans Lyon and Warner were warmly acclaimed by tlie crowd, and Smith in the course of his remarks, said he could not have done tlie flight without them. Ulin’s comment was: “ We could do it again.” The Governor-General, Lord Stonehaven. and Governor-General Admiral Sir I). Do Clmir were introduced to the airmen. A large force of mounted police with six hundred foot comrades were present and had little trouble as the crowd seemed to appreciate the needs of the position and were most orderly. After the official reception the Pacific flyers were motored round the grounds so the huge crowd could see and shout congratulations to them. The men responded with nods and smiles but displayed little emotion which was not surprising at the end of the long journey.

The actual flying time from Oakland to Svdnev was SS hours 11 minutes. BRISBANE. June 11. "Captain Kingsford Smith received a cable from President CooTidge, congratulating the party on the accomplishment of the flight, adding that their brilliant courage was pioneering and strengthening the bonds between America and Australia.

TO MELBOURNE ON WEDNESDAY. THEN TO NEW ZEALAND. (Received this day at 10.15 a.m.A SYDNEY. June 11. The fliers arrive at Alelbourne on Wednesday, and immediately afterwnrds fly to Neu- Zealand, and thereafter continue their circumnavigation of the globe over oceans hitherto untraversed by aeroplane or airship, without taking unnecessary risks, which Smith and Elm assert is the c-au.se of accidents and are harmful to aviation. Smith’s parents are accompanying Kingsford on his flight to Melbourne. A NEAY MACHINE. LONDON, June 8. “I understand that A. Ah Roe is contemplating a machine able to fly at a considerable altitude at a hitherto not dreamed of speed, but rumoured to be one thousand miles an hour.” said Sir Charles Wakefield, at a Savoy Hotel dinner at which the Air League entertained Roe in celebration of the 20th. anniversary of the carrying out of the first tost flight in England.