AVIATION

Hokitika Guardian, 22 April 1931, Page 6

AVIATION

THE SOUTHERN CROSS. LEAVES FOR. DARWIN. (Australian Press Association) SYDNEY, April 21. Kingston! Smith left Mascot a mile after midday in the Southern Cross for Koepang to pick up the “City of Cairo's” mails. He expects to reach Darwin on Thursday, via Brisbane. He will proceed next day to Koepang. Then ho will return and transfer the mails to a Quantas plane. After that the Southern Cross will go from. Darwin to Akyab with Australian mails, connecting with the Imperial Airways mail. Smith then, returns home. S.MITH’S CONFIDENCE, SYDNEY, April 21. “We simply must put up a good show,” exclaimed Kings ford Smith, while donning his oil-stained cap that has been round the world, and his tattered flying coat in which he flew the Tasman and the Atlantic. “This old Inis, he added patting the blue fuselage of the historic Southern Cross, “knows the road so well that T believe she could nose her way over the Timor Sea without a pilot. I am mighty glad of this chance. It is up to us to show the British Government that we can be relied on to handle this end of this important mail service.” The Sydney agents of the Imperial Airways. Limited, express their deep appreciation of the public-spirited action of the Australian National Airways. and of Kiu.gsford Smith in meeting the emergency so promptly.

NEWS FROM KOEPANG. KOEPANG. April 20. The main engine of the “City of Cairo” is intact. Both the side engines are broken and they will he shipped to England. There were only four and a half gallons of bozine left when the aeroplane- crashed. which was insufficient to carry them to the landing field. The pilots are now awaiting further instructions. THE SOUTHERN CROSS. BRISBANE, April 22. The Southern Cross arrived and leaves for Clonciirry at dawn (bis morning. CHICHESTER RESOLVES. TO LEAVE LORD HOWE BY ADC SYDNEY, April 2.1. It was- expected that with the arrival of the steamer Makamo in Sydney to-day. that Chichester would he aboard. The officers reported that Chichester had resolved that the only way he would come to Sydney was by air. The minor parts ol his aeroplane wore aboard. These will he returned, after repairs are affected, to Lord Howe Island.