TASMAN FLIGHT

Hokitika Guardian, 13 July 1933, Page 5

TASMAN FLIGHT

NEW ZEALAND PILOT

TO FLY SMITHY’S NEW MACHINE

fPer Press Association — Copyright.)

WELLINGTON, July 12

Sir C. Kings ford Smith has chosen Squadron Leader T. W. White, chief pilot of New Zealand Airways, to fly tlie Australian-built monoplane across the Tasman in December.

In making an announcement to this effect to-day, Mr B. Shiel, aviation official of the Vacuum Oil Company, said the machine will be a six-passen-ger twin-engined monoplane. It will be built at Cockatoo Island, Sydney, and will be registered as the first of the Codick type. It will be of Fokkcr design, powered with two Napier Javelin engines, each developing 175 horse power. The wing span will be 52 feet, and the all over length 35 feet. With either engine stopped, the machine will be able to fly for at least 800 miles. The top speed of the machine will be 140 m.p.h., and the cruising speed 125 m.p.h. Its range with a full load will be 1000 miles. By installing extra petrol tanks, in place of passenger accommodation, an ocean flight of 2000 miles-: will be possible, K.Al.i. .

It is oxpected the machine will be completed in November, said Mr Shiel, •end although it' will be rigidly tested at Sydney, its first commercial test will be the flight across the Tasman in formation with the Southern Cress. Sir C. Kingsford Smith is conducting a competition among school children for an Australian name for the new aeroplane. It is expected that, after Jus tour of New Zealand, he will enter a tender for the AustraliaSingapore section of the EnglandAustralia air service.

Chief Pilot White is a well-known New Zealand pilot. .He, enlisted . in. 1914, and served on Gallipoli, transferring to the Royal Flying Corps in.' October, 1916. He served .in the:East until a forced landing, behind the enemy lines in July,. 1917, made him a prisoner of war until the! armistice Adopting aviation as a profession, Pilot White did some pioneer flying >n Fiji, including a considerable amount; of aerial survey work. At the commencement of the Aero Club movement, in New Zealand, he was appointed pilot-instructor to the' Hiiwkes Bay‘Club, and later joined the Now Zealand Airways Ltd, in Timaru as chief pilot.. In- this capacity ne lias /lope,, amount ,of aerial exploration in Central Otago, and during the tour of the 'Southern Cross at, the beginning of the year, lie flew the Southern Cross Kitten; the tender machine, on the latter portion of vne tour, lie commands the No .) Army Co-operation Squadron of theNew Zealand Air ,Perea,

WAIKATO MACHINE DAMAGED

DURING LANDING IN THE DARK

NEW PLYMOUTH, July 12

Damage to the undercarriage and flc-or of the fupilage of a Do Shutter cabin monoplane, piloted by S. Blackmore of Hamilton, was caused when a landing was made at New Plymouth aerodrome after dark to-night. Two passengers, Mr and Mrs F. Clarke, of To Aroha and the pilot, escaped m jury. The passengers were flying to attend a wedding, and arrived at the ceremony only a quarter of an hour late. The monoplane left. Waikato at 4.30 and arrived at 5.45. The aerodrome staff had beeltv advised.!:add flares were .set indicating the landing direction. Blaekmore landed - at an angle, and. carried too far. He taxied through the boundary fence, where the damage, was caused.

WOODS IN INDIA

BOMBAY, July 11

Woods arrived at Mingaladon at flve o’clock this afternoon, from Bangkok. He experienced bad monsoons and strong head winds.

CLAIM TO ALTITUDE RECORD.

BY WELLINGTON PILOT

WELLINGTON, July 12

Records kept at Wellington suggest that the altitude achieved at New Plymouth is nearly one thousand feet below that which. 0. M. Dutliie, a Wellington aero pilot, reached some years ago, when, in a standard machivei he went up to 19,370 feet. In any ease, unless the New Plymouth machine was equipped with a sealed barograph, a record could not be claimed, pr was so in the case of Duthie, as the automatic record of such an instrument is insisted upon in official flying circles. Since Duthie’s unofficial record, altitude flying has not been encouraged here, on account of machines being forced above the ceiling which rightly belongs to them. LINDBERGHS HOP OFF. (Received this d°v at 10.2") a.iii.l HAT T FAX, July 12. t’-.. Lindberghs hopped off onrth ward to-day. ITALIAN SQUADRON’S FLIGHT. (Received this day at 11.5 a.m.) OTTAWA, July 12. Information announced at the short wave ■ wireless station established at

Shediac by the Italian Government, states that the Italian air isqund'ron arrived at Cartwright at 1.30 p.lll. According to the time given, the fifteen hundred miles from Iceland, was covered in ten and a half hours.