ABOVE THE CLOUDS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2166, 21 August 1920, Page 2

ABOVE THE CLOUDS.

FIRST FLIGHT FROM PALMERSTON TO •WELLINGTON.^

Describing the flight by Utopia no from Palmerston 40 "Wellington on Thursday, to a N.Z. Times reporter, just after lie had landed, Captain Bussell gave .an.account of the trip. “We left Palmerston North at 11.15, lie said, in line weather with a stiffeasterly wind,.,and -after circling' over the lowa for ten minutes,, set off over the Tararnas. With Pahiatua on our left, we got a good view, and at an altitude of 2,000 feet reached Ekelahmia at a quarter to twaive, many persons greeting us as wo passed them at over 00 miles an hour. At a quarter past twelve wo were over Maslerlon, and contrary to our arrangements we decided to proceed.direct to Wellington. After circling over, the town for five minutes we I lien in a few minutes crossed Carterton. Compelled to soar to 0,000 feet in order to cross the Hiimitakas, we then ran into dense clouds and heavy rain, hut while passing over Leathers!on Camp wo could plainly discern it. “Prom Peatherston," concluded the pilot, “1 had to steer my course by compass only, hut at if.2o Wellington came into sight, and after circling over the city, a good landing was made on the Park.”

The passenger, Mr Oram, when asked for an opinion of the aerial trip, remarked that “there was nothing like it,’’ although lie stated (hal conditions were not of the best as regards ground visibility and the cold wind.