ACCOUNT OF TRIP

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 433, 18 January 1933, Page 6

ACCOUNT OF TRIP

PASSENGER'S VERSION An account of the trip after leaving New Plymouth until arrival in Rotorua, was given to a "Post" representative last evening by Mr. J. D. Davys, president of the Rotorua Airways, who with Mr. M. Hutton, manager of Brent's, Ltd., made the journey at the special invitation of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith. "We left New Plymouth at ten j minutes past two," said Mr. Davys, I "there being twelve passengers in addition to the two pilots, together with a f air amount of heavy baggage. "The weather was overcast and the clouds low on the sea coast. The .only weather report available had come from Rotorua and Sir Charles was not sure whether he would be able to cross the ranges between the sea and the Waikato on account of the restricted visibility. New Zealand has no accurate aerial maps and consequently blind flying is neither advisable nor safe. Conditions Improve "When the plane reached a point on the coast practically parallel with Waitomo the clouds lifted eonsiderably and 'Smithy' signalled the anxious passengers by putting his 'thumbs up' that the course was clear. "The Southern Cross was accompanied by Squadron-Leader A. J. Butler in the Rotorua Airways' Puss Moth and Captain Bolt in a Welling-

ton Aero Club's American Waco machine. At this point all turned inland and fine,. clear weather continued up to Putaruru. "There were heavy clouds, and a thick mantle of mist over the Mamaku range and it was impossible to see ahead. Sir Charles headed the Southern Cross towards Atiamuri and started to rise to a height of 6000 feet. The heavy clouds were still impenetrat ;able and rain was falling all round the plane. The heavy load precluded the possibiity of rising higher and after several attempts to get through without losing visibility the plane was brought down to a level close to the ground. A Final Attempt "Anticipating tha^it was perhaps not advisable to go through to Rotorua, one last attempt was made by Sir Charles before deciding whether to make for Hamilton. "Returning to Mamaku the Southern Cross was brought down to a lower level and the mist and rain cleared almost like magic and a clear and uninterrupted view of Lake Rotorua was sudddnly presented. From then on no difficulty whatever was experienced and after circling the landing field a perfeet landing was made." The masterly manner in which Sir Charles Kingsford Smith handled the plane was remarked upon by Mr. Davys, who said that he thoroughly enjoyed the trip. When passing over Hinuera, the escorting Waco plane, piloted by Captain Bolt, dropped behind and tilting its wing disappeared from view. Thinking it inadvisable to cross the Mamakus in the poor visibility, Squad-ron-Leader Butler turned back and landed at Hamilton in the Rotorua Airways' Puss Moth.