THE TASMAN FLIGHT

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 237, 27 December 1927, Page 10

THE TASMAN FLIGHT

IT seems definitely established that an attempt is to he made at last to fly the Tasman. The “hop-off” will be made from Australia, but there will be much satisfaction to the Dominion to know that the adventure is to be made by New Zealand airmen, and that the enterprise of these two men is being backed by the Commonwealth Government, which is extendingthem every courtesy and lending them the assistance available at the Point Cook Airdrome to assemble their machine. Given favourable weather conditions and reasonable luck, the trans-Tasman flight should present no great difficulties to experienced airmen like Captain Hood, of Masterton, and Lieutenant Moncmeff, of Wellington. They are to essay the journey in a monoplane which is of the same power as that in which Colonel Lindbergh made his successful solo flight from America to Europe, and the machine will carry 300 gallons of petrol, which will enable it to fly between 1,600 and 1,700 miles, or from 400 to 500 miles farther than the distance from Sydney to Wellington. Efforts are being made to begin the flight on New Year’s night, and if this can be accomplished, the airmen will have the advantage of what help can be rendered, in case of emergency, by the presence of four steamers, spaced at regular intervals, between Australia and New Zealand. The start of the flight will be awaited with the greatest interest at this end, and if the airmen are successful, they will indeed have well begun the Happy New Year that all will wish them.