AN 11 HOUR FLIGHT

Hokitika Guardian, 16 September 1932, Page 2

AN 11 HOUR FLIGHT

AUCKLAND TO CENTRAL OTAGO. LANDING MADE IN DARK

AUCKLAND, September 12. Olnly about 11 hours were required on Saturday to make 'a journey by .aeroplane that with other means of transport* available would have taken at least three or four days. The feat wa.s accomplished by a Hermes Sjpartan machine owned by New Zealand 1 Airways Ltd-, piloted by SquadronLeader T. W. White, and earring Mr. H. M.Mackay, manager of the company, and Mrs Maekay as passengers. Leaving Mangere (aerodrome at six o’clock on Saturday morning, the aeroplane made the fin ail landing at Lake Hawea, 10 miles from Pembroke, in the dark shortly after 7 p.m. Mr Maofeay, in a .special message to the “New Zealand Herald,” said the journey was a difficult one against confcihntoud belaid winds. IStops for (refuelling were made at Hawera, Blenheim and Ashburton. From Blenheim to Kaibourhi heavy clouds were encountered.

Tlie flight is one of the longest attempted in New Zealand in one day, especially with three persons in the machine. The speed of the journey is emphasised when consideration is given to the times required to make it by train, boat and motor. Taking the quickest possible means so as to avoid delays occasioned by having to spend a week-end en route, the party could leave Auckland hv the Limited express at seven o’clock on, say, Monday night, for Wellington, where they would embark next evening for Lyttelton, arriving in Christchurch next morning. Dunedin could he reached by train at 4 p.m. on Wedhrisidny, and unless the journey was continued by private car * stev wmjd have to be made there for the night. The train journey to Cromwell in Central Otago is an all-day affair a.nd it is c ustomary for travellers to spend tbc nirrht- there, although orivnte cans could Carry them on to Pembroke, which would be reached late on Thursday night,