"SMITHY'S" RECORD

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 428, 12 January 1933, Page 5

"SMITHY'S" RECORD

Jack

Percival,

INTERESTING PICTURES OF LIVES OF THE FLIERS

(By

Jr., Passenger on

the Southern Cross.) In all his big flights Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith's motto has been "Safety First" not beeause of any personal fears, hut in the interests of aviation.

On the trans-Tasman flight it is the first time in the history of aviation that wireless telephony was used on an ocean flight. Just before leaving Australia for New Plymouth', Kingsford-Smith's wife presented him with a son. Telegrams showered from all parts of the country at such a terrific rate that the postal authorities asked Kingsfprd Smith's permission to deliver the messages of congratulation in batches instead of singly. The Life of the Party Kingsford-Smith is a happy-go-lucky fellow and the life of any party. He has an indomitable spirit, a characteristic which endeared him to his fellows in the Flying Corps during the World War. Stannage, the wireless operator, is diminutive in stature, but what he lacks in size he makes up in pep and enthusiasm for wireless. For weeks before the flight he laboured on the assembling of his equipment in the 'plane. Captain Taylor, the navigator, is an ex-war pilot, and one of the most competent pilots of the Australian National Airways. Mr. S. E. Neilson is the secretary of the New Plymouth Aero Club, while the writer, the baby of the complemeht of the Southern Cross, is a Sydney journalist, whose particular job was to accompany the Universal film "Air Mail." Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith has always done all in his power to foster aviation, but the real point in the flight is the inauguration of the transTasman passenger service and air mail service. The Eirst Passenger The writer has done spme extensive flying during his assignments as a journalist, hut he is not a pilot, and to him goes the honour of being the first air passenger to cross the Tasman, and to Universal Pictures goes the eredit of first utilising an aeroP'lane to convey goods to New Zealand for direct commercial purp'oses. Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith regards the Southern Cross as almost human, beeause of the great flights on which he has flown it.' It is easily the most famous aeroplane in the world, ■and he has heen offered fabulous prices for it hy American interests, hnt will not part with it.