THE TASMAN FLIERS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5348, 7 November 1928, Page 4

THE TASMAN FLIERS.

RETURN TO SYDNEY. GLAD TO BE HOME AGAIN. “No, we. were never lost. We saw a fog below when, we hit the c,oast scjmeivhere .njear Newcastle,, and didn, t want to take the risk of coming, down •when I couldn’t see what was below, us; so. I cruised up and' down t'he coast from Newcastle. ito’Brojken Bay, said Squadron-Leader Kingsford; Smith at Richmond Aerodrome, after the the arrival of the Southern Cross on the historic flight from New Zealand •to Australia. “I’m damn, glad to be home again,” he said; as he wss shoved towards a microphone for a broadcast message, Thus Kingsford Smith explained the fact that the ‘planle .was heard 'at different places during, the twci hours that the large crowd at Richmond was waiting for it to land there. Pulling himself together he showed that in spite ojf the gruelling flight he had not lost his sense of humour. . “Lt is time I was saying goc..d-night,” was his first remark over the microphone. “In fact, it is almost too late, to; say good-night; I’m jolly glad tcj be here safely. I really should be saying good morning.” . - .

He was most emphatic in his statement that they were not lost.

“Cheerio, everybody. We are glad to be back,” were his. first words, when he had managed tq extric.ate himself from the seething, crowd of almost hysterical admirers, who surroundted him on 'his triumphal progress from the ‘plane to one of the hangars.

He kissed his mother. Then the crc ; wd surged round again. He escaped into the “dope” room, next dbor, where in cqmpa.fative peace.—comparative only by the maelstrom through which he had just been whirled—.he was able , onc,e again to. embrace his mother.

Then he turped and saw “Doc” Maidment, the mechanic, who had tuned, up the Southern Cross engines, and hugged him fervently alsct

“You did' it wonderfully,” shouted Maidment, as the two Continued to. hug and “pump-handle”' each other. “I can’t say m-uch mO;re,’ Kingsford Smith, said. He found speech difficult ■amidst the almost interminable congratulations showered upon him at every turn “ff am glad tc : be backjolly glad,” We repeated. “We landed with only three gallons Qf Juice,” “SJmithy” said. “We cut things prettj/ fine ; but, anyhow, we are. We had .a fortv-mile head wond against us .most of the way. It was rough.; going, but I never thought for a moment that we would fall.’

It was ’obvious that in his almost exhausted cp.nditifon he found speech an, effort, and it was nht long before, mercifully, he ypas escorted to the ; FUEJL COST. In the return flight a.cr'oss the Tasman; the Southern Cross was loaded with 725 gallons s of spirit, and 26 gallons ct motor /oil. This amount of spirit wiould have been sufficient to carry the ’plane for 24 hours. Thetojtal weight of the machine on the return, ’flight, including fuel, crew, and 1001 b of mail matter, was six tons. The original propedlers which were used ori the Pacific flight, were again, fitted for the retujrn Tasman flight, as the propellers used on the outward Tasman flight were less satisfactory. Qu 1 the outward T asman flight the coflHU’H) pt ion qf spirit was approximately 425 gallons, land the amount of" oil that was put intc ; the tanks was 24! gallons (of his, six gallons were actually consumed). The cost Of 425/ gallons of spirit is £37 3s 9d which.-works out at 5,4 d per. mile. The oonsmn ptic ; n of. six gi aliens of oil would to l-B : th of a, pehpy pep .mile. Thus tHie eq?, t o<f the onward Tasman flight, in fu '- e l conisumption, was something wnd« r £37