TASMAN FLIGHT

Hokitika Guardian, 29 December 1932, Page 5

TASMAN FLIGHT

TTJESDAY WEEK SMITH’S ARRANGEMENTS. i 'Australian Press Association.) SYDNEY, December 2S. The preparations for his Tasman flight have almost been completed by i Sir Charles Kingsford Smith. J The date of the flight has now been (fixed as Tuesday, January 10th. j Smith announced to-day passengers ■ by tile Southern Cross will be Mr S. Nielson, the Secretary of the New Plymouth Aero Club; Mr J. Percival, a journalist; Mr P. Taylor, assistant-pilot-navigator; and Mr W. Stamiage wireless operator. The Southern Cross leaves the Mascot Aerodrome on January 10th, at 11 a.m., for the Gerringong Beach, eighty miles to the south, where 660 gallons of spirit and thirty gallons of oil will be taken aboard. The flight to New Zealand commences the same evening at about 4 o’clock, at low tide, or when a suitable meteorological report is available.

Smith is trying to borrow a small deck watch chronometer from the Navy which would be most useful on the flight, but the Navy Board, so far, is reluctant to iend him one,

TWO VIOTIMS,

A HARROWING SCENE.

SYDNEY, December 28

A Port Moresby (New Guinea) message, states that the Moth aeroplane, the property of the New Guinea Airways, crashed yesterday, and fell fifty feet.

Hie pilot was crushed to death by the engine, and an American, wh 0 was the passenger, was burned to death in the view of his wife and child.

i The American was almost rescued, but one foot became entangled in the wreckage, and the flames spread so rapidly, that the rescuers were driven off, and the victim was left to his fate. The names are, Pilot Drayton and L. Harper, or Taylor, an American surveyor. MONSTER BRITISH AUTOGYRO. LONDON, December 28. The Air Ministiy has ordered a fiveseater autogyro, the biggest of its type yet built. PERSIAN Air force. ORDERS FOR PLANES.

LONDON, December 28.

The “Daily Herald” say s that the Persian Government has ordered three squadrons of two-seater bomber aeroplanes at a cost of two hundred thousand sterling from the Hawker Company. Though similar to the R.A.F. bombers, these will probably be twenty mile s per hour slower.

PROSPECTOR’S PLANE

LOCATED IN CENTRALIA.

PERTH, December 28

After having been for five days overdue, the airman Baker’s aeroplane is now reported to be safe at Cook. The party, who were prospecting in Central Australia for a gold reef, made a forced landing, capsized in the rough country, and as temporary repairs would not enable the machine to rise, the passenger, Whelan, who' i s the prospector, was forced to remain behind with small provisions. He will be rescued to-day by one of tlie three search aeroplanes which already pre en route to Central Australia. ' WHELAN LOCATED ALSO. (Received Dec. 29th. at 10.55 a.m. PERTH, December 28. The Hercules aeroplane returned to Forrest after locating Whelan, about 215 miles north. Provisions and water were dropped, but no blacks sighted, and it is now proposed to go to Whelan’s rescue on horseback.

The journey will probably take four weeks. Baker and Stuckey, bloodbespattered, were showing obvious si.g(ns hf hardship. Stuckey had a wound on his head received while trying to disentangle himself from the overturned plane. BABY AEROPLANES. MOTOR CYCLE ENGINES USED. LONDON, December 27. “The Tillies” says that air speeding lias been inaugurated at. Hanworth. with baby air-pla'ines of six ifcorse power. They are fitted with motorcycle engines, and are providing a fascinating spectacle when swimming the turf, although their speed is only sixty miles per hour. They never rose above ten feet, as they travelled with the pilots neck and neck, jockeying for po. stition when rounding the nylons. There w,ero four of the pianos in the air simultaneously and they suggested a battery of machine guns, mounted on fast lorries advancing at a great speed. The programine included crazy flying, and acrobatics, demonstrating safety and manoeuvring power. It is anticipated that these baby planes will shortly be marketed. They nre working on a low-running cost, which provides really cheap flying.