SOUTHERH CROSS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 May 1929, Page 6

SOUTHERH CROSS

.FURTHER EVIDENCE.

(Australian Press Association)

SYDNEY, May 21

At the Air Inquiry, Lieut (Jim said that their decision to get to AYyndliam after sighting the Port George Mission was an experimental one. They had an immense amount at stake in getting there. As it happened they encountered a head wind and, with dwindling petrol, they were compelled to turn back. They had previously noticed that the only possible landing places near the Mission contained mud and water which would cause certain disaster. Other places contained out-crops of’rock, which would make it unsafe.

“We failed to get to Wyndham and our reputations, had been challenged throughout the world,” Ulm said. In view of extraordinary weather variations in North-West they would try in future to get fuller weather reports before starting a similar flight.

Captain Hughes asked: “What is your view of the steps which should be taken to regulate, long-distance flights in future?”

Ulm: “That question' is too general. If the Aviation Department assumes control/of all., pioneering work then pioneering ceases. , There will always be casualties among pioneers. A few ’■years' ago' many people ‘thought we 'were lunatics to fly-.the Pacific. .'Mon .Tike Anderson and Hitchcock will idways go out and risk their lives ;n belief work, whether- the Government .•likes Jit or not.’?' ■ •

Captain Hughes: “You do not advise regulations ?”

Ulm: “I do not say that, hut it would take me two or three days to consider the question. If it is in the interest of aviation to give up longdistance flying, Smith and my,sell will give it up.” THE RADIO QUESTION. SYDNEY, May 21. At the Air Inquiry, Captain Hughes asked Ulm : “Tf you had been able to operate with a fixed aerial, it would not have carried away?” . Ulm : “That is .so.” Captaiii Hughes: “Did not the New Systems, .Telephone -Company offer you ’a substitute. Tor your' emergency set before you left Sydney?” Ulmi “Yes. They mentioned a set weighing one hundred pounds.” iL'.Captain Hughes:■ “You made rather a momentous ‘ decision -. when you de-‘ 'cidcd to leave th<s Port ■ George -Mission to fly one hundred and fifty miles?” Ulm: “We did not know it was the Mission.” Captain iHughcs: “That , was the, only habitation in sight, and yet you make that decision to leave it?” Ulm: “We only had .to have reasonable help from a' following ' wind, while we knew we could turn back if necessary.”. w ... . Captain Hughes:' ‘‘.Do you tli ihk it necessary to prevent people going off on hairbrained flights?” Ulm: “If they are hail-brained, yes.”-.-- r •; e jmcWilltAm’s ’evid'engic.' Thomas McWilliam,, Officer of the Now Zealand Air Force, and Radio Operator on the Southern Cross, explained that their aerial broke ofl while Litchfield was taking a drift reading. The emergency radio set belonging to the Southern Cross was of little use, it having only a range of twenty-five miles. The batteries would not operate more than fifteen minutes The sot was left belli ml because inwould not have it. Witness find made a test of this set last Sunday and an officer of the Sydney Radio Station, only seven miles away could scarcely hear his signals. Witness admitted that the loss of the aerial during the flight had seriously interfered with reception. Witness was questioned at some length about converting the receiver into a transmitter. He said that this had occurred to him, hut he could regard it only as an experiment, and lie could not afford to use the battery in that direction.

CAPTAIN BRAIN’S EVIDENCE. SYDNEY, A ray 21. At the Air Inquiry, Captain Lester Brain,' who took part in the search for the Kookaburra, detailed the incidents leading up to the discovery of that aeroplane with a dead body beneath its wing. He was asked by Mr Hammond, Tv.C., to suggest precautions for the safety of those who undertook long flights. Captain Brain said that a machine like the Southern Cross could undertake flights which other machines were unable to tackle. Nevertheless, it was advisable that the crew should take at least three (lavs’ supply of food and water, and also a radio set which would function efficiently from the ground as well as from the air. Tools sufficient to do* light repairs should also he taken. The inquiry was adjourned. A NEW CONTENTION. SYDNEY. May 24. Lieut. Ulm, continuing his evidence at the inquiry, said that it was difficult to pick up landmarks in North AA r est Australia, the hills there presenting such a similarity of characteristics. Wyndham was chosen for tlieir jumpiiig-ofF place because that iioint was important in Australian defence,