FAILED TWICE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 219, 5 December 1927, Page 1

FAILED TWICE

SMITH MEETS TROUBLE IN THE AIR ENDURANCE FLIGHTS By Cable.—Press Association. — Copyright. Received 9.5 a.m. SAN FRANCISCO, Sunday. Two attempts at an endurance flight by Captain Kingsford Smith have failed. He and Lieutenant George Pond, of the United States Navy, took off at 8.55 a.m. on Saturday in an attempt to make an endurance flight record in the airplane Spirit of California. They were later forced to land. The machine carried 1,148 gallons of petrol. The airmen intended to fly over the northern part of Southern California, but if unfavourable weather developed to cruise south over the Mojave Desert. The airplane made one false start before it finally took to the air. The tail skidded off the side of the board runway, but the machine was stopped without accident and taken back and warmed up. It rose into the air after running about 2,600 ft, and made a perfect ascent, in spite of the tremendous load, and was in the air within 86 seconds after restarting. The weather was clear and flying conditi< — were excellent. After the airmen had been in the air only 139 minutes, the air currents over the sea of Oakland Bay shook the heavily-loaded machine so violently that they experienced the greatest difficulty in controlling it. They were compelled to drop SOO gallon's of petrol when 40 miles out from the Golden Gate. They found it would be necessary to land, and sent a radio message before doing so, saying the tail of the plane was fluttering and the windshield sheltering the cockpit was “coming unstuck.” The machine was brought to a safe landing. Captain Smith said the tail of the : airplane wobbled to such a degree that he feared a tailspin every moment. SECOND ATTEMPT This morning he tried again, and at 7 35 the plane made an excellent getaway, rising in 28 seconds The weather conditions were reported to be fine. m o „ m The plane returned at lb.S a.m.. Captain Smith stating that he had encountered the same -nditions as on the previous day, and rgain saying he would try again.—A. and N.Z. BACK TO LONDON HINKLER AND MCINTOSH LONDON. Sunday. Captain R. H. Mclntosh and Mr. i Bert Hinkler have arrived in London from Poland. Captain Mclntosh said their flight to India would be attempted again in February or March, I when better weather may be ex- ! pected They found after landing in Poland that the remaining petrol in ' their machine would only carry them j to Afghanistan, where a descent was unthinkable. The airplane may posUibly be repaired.—A. =<ia N.Z.