MIGHT TAKE OFF FROM MURIWAI BEACH

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 387, 22 June 1928, Page 1

MIGHT TAKE OFF FROM MURIWAI BEACH

VISIT OF SOUTHERN CROSS AERO CLUB INVESTIGATES The suggestion made in THE SUN yesterday that Captain Kingsford Smith and his fellowairmen be invited to make A.uckland the hopping-off place on their return flight to Australia in the Southern Cross was discussed last evening by the Auckland Aero Club. A committee was set up to inquire into the local position, which presents a number of difficulties. “There is no doubt that Auckland wants a visit from the Southern Cross, and that the Aero Club should make the first move,” remarked the chairman, Mr. H. T. Merritt, in opening the discussion. A suggestion was made that Mr. G. Henning’s property at Mangere was the only suitable one for a landing. Major G. Cowper said that the position in Auckland had already been discussed, and a number of landing places suggested, mostly by laymen, were quite out of the question. They could not even be prepared in the time available. This was the view orthe Government expef-t, Captain Isitt, and included the Hobsonville site for the future development of local activities. Captain Bloomfield and Major Cowper have inspected the Mangere speedway on Mr. Henning’s property, and have come to the conclusion that the property might be prepared. A certain amount of mangrove would have to be cleared. There would be nc question about the landing, bi> there was one about the possibility of taking off. It certain'?' could not take-off fully loaded fer the return flight. It has to be remembered that the Southern Cross is not like the machines that have been seen in New Zealand up to the present It is huge by comparison, and requires a run of anything up to a mile and a-half before leaving the ground. Nine hundred yards are available at Mangere. Moreover, it is valued at about £7,000, and there is considerable responsibility in deciding on all the details of landing and taking off. MAY USE BEACHES Mangere area would be excellent as a. school area, but there are difficulties about dealing with huge airplanes there. Captain Bloomfield’s suggestion was that if the Mangere area could be prepared for a take-off the Southern Cross might then proceed to Muriwai Beach or Ninety-Mile Beach, both of which were quite suitable for taking off. The club decided to set up a committee consisting of Captain Seabrook, Captain Bloomfield and Major Cowper, to inquire fully into the possibilities in conjunction with Captain Isitt, and on the decision of the committee will rest the future action of inviting the visitors and their plane to Auckland, or leaving the subject alone.