TOLD BY RADIO

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 485, 15 October 1928, Page 11

TOLD BY RADIO

Flight Logged Minute by Minute

By Wire less—Special to THE SUE.)

SATURDAY 4 a.m.: IYA comes on the air. 4.15 a.m.: IYA passes over to Takapuna station for relay of 2YA. 4.16 a.m.: On relay from airdrome. Announcement that Litchfield and Me William are climbing in to the cabin. 4.40 a.m.: Southern Cross commences to move out of hangar. Weather is overcast. The exhaust pipes are spitting fireworks. 4.44 a.m.: One of the Bristol fighters goes aloft to accompany plane for the first few miles out to sea. 4.48 a.m.: Announcer says there are about 500 cars lining the runway. ROAR OF ENGINES HEARD 4.53 a.m.: She’s off! She’s well down the runway. She is up and rising slowly. The plane comes back over the hangar and the roar of her engines are clearly heard above the cheers of the spectators. 4.59 a.m.: Plane passed out of sight. 5.30 a.m.: Plane attempting to communicate with Sydney. 5.46 a m.: Plane’s generator heard for first time. Very unsteady. Litchfield reports that he is taking bearings. 5.52 to 6.4 a.m.: Wave audible but no messages. 6.35 a.m.: IYA announced that plane’s position at 6 a.m. (New Zealand time) was lat. 40.40 south; long. 171.09 east. Speed 49 knots. 7 a.m.: Wave audiblo again. 7.4 a.m.: Plane calls all stations. Cave position at 7 a~m. (New Zealand time) as lat. 40.18 south, long. 173.07 east, altitude 500 ft, speed 52 knots, course 309 deg. , 7. 1 t a.m.: Plane is evidently passing a ship as operator asks: “What ship that below? 1 ' 7.30 a.m.: Southern Cross calls, "Have nothing for you." 8.6 a.m.: Position of plane given* as lat. 39.65 south, long. 172.16 east; course 309 deg.; speed 30 knots; altitude 500 ft. “WEATHER ROTTEN" B<o6 a.m.: First special Press message: “Have been in rain and wind storm for last hour, altitude under 500 feet. Speed 76 knots. Very overcast sky. Visibility nil. Rain thick in cockpit. Weather rotten. Strong north - north-westerly head wind. Bumps. Wet through. Hands very cold.Him.” M 6 a.m.: Position at 9 a.m. (New Zealand time) given as lat. 39.13 south, long. 171.24 east; altitude 500 ft; speed 52 knots; course 309 deg. Southern Cross also asks Wellington if there are any messages for the plane to send them via V.L.E. (The Maheno which left Wellington for Sydney yesterday.) f. 34 a.m. to 9.50 a.m.: Plane sending private messages. 14.15 a.m.: Southern Cross reports position at 10 a.m. (New Zealand time): lat. 38.38 south; long. 170.38 east; speed 52 Knots; altitude 400 ft. 10.26 a.m.: Plane is apparently talking to someone whom we cannot hear replying. McWilliam says, "Can you give me any information about winds west of 165 east. Encountering strong head winds at present. Position lat. 35.38 south, long. 170.20 east. Please ask VLE to remain until you get reply to this." The crew of the plane is busy for sometime sending private messages, but of course listeners-in close their ears to them. 11.10 a.m.: Another press message: "Since leaving, rain storm. Nothing to report. Head wind again, increasing now to over 25 miles an hour. Sky clear, sun out. Choppy wind, causing bumps. Altitude under 500 feet, as head winds stronger above. Passed three ships earlier this morning. Cheerio.”—Elm. (The position is then given as at 11 a.m. (New Zealand time) as follows: Lat., 38.08 south: long., 169.27 east. Course, 287 deg. true. Speed, 52. Altitude. 400 feet.) 11.39 a.m. till 11.55 a.m.—The plane's wave is still audible, but it is very unsteady, surging all over the place, and it is quite evident that the bumps of which Ulm speaks are fairly frequent. Neon: The plane has now been out seven hours and during practically the whole of the time has been in wireless touch with New Zealand. SIGNALS STRONGER The signals on the whole, have been much stronger than on the flight to New Zealand and messages should be heard here till the plane arrives in Sydney. The signals are much steadier now. 12.5 p.m.: The plane’s wave is not audible. 12.15 p.m.: Position of plane at noon was reported as "lat. 38.03 south, long. 168.33 cast; course 286 cleg. Altitude 300 ft. Speed 52 knots." 1.5 p.m.: Southern Cross reported that hei position was lat. 37.46 south, long; 167.27 east, course 286 degrees, alti- . tude 500 ft, speed 53 knots. 1.25 p.m.—The following message was transmitted from the plane: “Noon position, lat. 38.03 south, long. 168.65 east, altitude, still low. Head wind still continues, also bumps. Passed through two or three sudden squalls, but air speed (undecipherable), mostly about 55 knots. Sky overcast. Visibility fair. If the wind continues will take over 24 hours." At the present time it is estimated that from the position given the plane is about 450 miles from Blenheim. 2.5 p.m.: Plane's position at 2 p.m., reported direct from the Southern Cross, was lat. 37.30 south, long. 166.73 east, course 299 degrees, speed 50 knots, altitude 400 feet. 3.15 p.m.: The Southern Cross could still be heard clearly transmitting on a constant wave-leigth. There was, however, no message. STRONG HEAD-WINDS *•25 p.m.: "Hullo, here she is at last. Press message too. What have they to say this time?" "At 2.30 New Zealand time Litchfield gave our position as 720 miles from Sydney. Still meeting strong head winds, therefore it is unlikely that we will arrive at Richmond before 1.30 a.m., Sydney time. Showery. Clouds are banking up north; air speed 7S. Now battling ahead. Cheerio.—Ulm." 4 p.m.: Southern Cross, altitude 500 feet, sun fairly showing; sky clear, wind veering to south. Lat. 36 degrees south; long. 162.35 east: air speed 77 knots. All o.k. 4.30 p.m.: Wave audible again but not so strong as before. 5.6 p.m.: Southern Cross reports again that the plane has been jumping about. Their signals are very hard to pick up. The message is a Press one and indicates their postion as lat. 35.23 south, long. 161.30 east; » course 280 degrees; air speed 78. More showers. The time given was not deciperable. A private message from Kingsford Smith follows.

I 6.6 p.m.: The Southern Cross reported that her position at 6 p.m., New Zeawas lat - 35.13 south; long. 160.0 a east; course 280 degrees; speed ■ 0 knots; altitude 700 feet. 6.30 p.m.: It is estimated from the plane’s position at 6.0 o’clock that she was then 440 miles from Sydney. 7.5 p.m.: The position of the plane at 7 p.m. New Zealand time, reports McWilliams, was: Latitude 35.00 south; longitude 158.50 east; course 280 degrees; altitude 700 feet. 7.20 p.m.: A really interesting message at last, and specially for the Press, too. It reads: “At 7.10 p.m.. New Zealand time we were 400 knots (presumably from Sydney). Altitude, 2,000 feet and climbing; air speed, 74 knots. Exhaust pipes are beginning to light up the sky. The sky is fairly clear. Should land ail right. Cheerio.—Ulm." 8.10 p.m.: Southern Cross climbing high. Mild reports at 8 p.m., New Zealand time. Latitude 34.48 south: longitude 157.24 east; course, 280 degrees; altitude, 6,000 feet. It was disappointing to receive no progress reports between S.lO p.m. and 11.20 p.m. During that time, however, the Southern Cross was transmitting commercial and private messages, and correcting others sent during the day. From what was heard it was apparent that messages during the day were not received as well in Australia as they were here. 1 11.22 p.m.: Sydney reported that the plane’s signals were getting weaker. SUNDAY ARRANGEMENTS FOR LANDING 11.25 p.m, to 12.30: The plane and Sydney were arranging details of the landing, it having been reported that the flood-light system at the Richmond airdrome had failed. Such a message evidently caused consternation on the plane, because the operator was heard asking all stations to repeat a message asking the warships to turn their searchlights seawards. 1.5 a.m.: This message was repeated. The Southern Cross was getting near land, although the position had not been reported since early in the evening. The lighting difficulty was evidently causing the crew much worry, as the next message was to hurry the searchlights as "We are looking for Sydney." Sydney reported that the message had been sent to the airdrome half an hour before. No messages were received from the plane for some time, and as it is concluded that the operator had reeled in his aerial, The Sun’s operators asked what 2BL, Sydney broadcast station, had to say. 1.30 a.m.: 2 BL said that the lighting should be adequate and fortunately there was no fog. 1.45 a.m.: Turning to the Richmond airdrome the announcement was made that the crowd was still pouring on to the ground, and that there are about 700 motor-cars present. 1.45 a.m.. IYA Auckland said that according to the Post and Telegraph Department, the plane says it has seen a lighted-up town that looks like Newcastle. WAS OVER NEWCASTLE 1.50 a.m.: Sydney said that the plane was reported over Newcastle, but it might not have been the Southern Cross. Then followed a disconcerting prophecy that perhaps the Southern Cross would float around until daylight. 2.6 a.m.: 2BL Sydney said that If the plane was over Newcastle as reported it should reach Sydney in 10 minutes. IS THERE ANY FOG? 2.19 a.m.: Plane’s carrier was heard again, calling the Richmond airdrome. "Please advise if there is any fog on the ground, and tell VIS (Svdney commercial station) about it." 2.25: The Southern Cross said it missed the airdrome’s acknowledgment of the message. 2.46 a.m.: "1 have lost portion of my long aerial and it is causing signals to fade," was the plane’s next message. Sydney replied by giving further information about the landing facilities. The plane was evidently receiving badly, as the message had to be repeated several times. OMINOUS REPORT 3.20 a.m.: Sydney told the plane that at 2.5 it was reported at Wyong, going south, and at 2.20 was again passing Wyong, going north. This sounded rather ominous; it looked as though the plane had lost its way. 3.20 a.m.: The first press message since early last evening. The plane said it expected to land as soon as possible and that it had only a few minutes’ petrol left! 3.23 a.m.: Sydney Broadcasters, 2BL, said that the plane was reported passing over Roseville (about 25 miles from Sydney), and there were many wild conjee tures as to what had happened. The station added that the plane was seen over the Parramatta River and should airive at Richmond shortly. 2BL also said that the plane was down to the last few minutes’ petrol, and that it was reported to be over Lone Cove River. The announcer explained that the Southern Cross had evidently made for the lights of Sydney to guide it to Richmond and had then worked across country. 3.34 a.m.: Southern Cross reported that operator was reeling in his aerial. 3.36 a.m.: 2BL said that messages reported that the plane was dropping flares. 3.45: Richmond Airdrome, relayed by 2BL and IYA, reported great excitement, and the announcer was just in tlie middle of saying there was no sign of the plane when he excitedly broke off to say he heard the now familiar purr of the Southern Cross’s engines. "She is flying about 500 ft up." he said, “she is right overhead. There is a light on her port wing. Slie is now flying westward. Now she is flying hack. Flares are being fired illuminating the ground. She Is now circiinfer the hangar for the second time.” (Rousing cheers were heard.) “Now the plane is coming down to about 200 ft. She is going lo land from the north. I can still hear the purr of her engines. There must be 10,000 people here to welcome these brave boys after their long flight. The flares are still burning, illuminating the drome. They are just about to land now at the Richmond end. They are down now.” (More loud cheers audible.) MAGNIFICENT LANDING "Splendid. They are coming right over to the hangar. A beautiful—a magnificent landing away to the south of the drome, away from the people in case of accident." The announcer broke off his thrilling narrative to say he was going inside with the microphone and that the landing was made exactly at 2.16 a.m. Sydney time Cheer after cheer interrupted his remarks, and he said the crowd was giving the airmen a typical Australian welcome. He said that Ulm was just getting out of the plane and that flashlight photographs were being taken. “The crowd is still shouting lustily,” he said, “and we are hoping to get them to say a few words to you before the mike, but they must be well nigh exhausted." The announcer made frantic appeals to his assistant to get the flyers to come over to the "mike,” but without success, as the crowd had taken charge of them. Finally, as Kingsford Smith approached he yelled to him, "Smithy, Smithy, come here.” The airman evidently recognising the announcer came over and said, "Hello, everybody, hello. Glad to be home. Thank you very much." The announcer asked. “How much netrol did you have left?" to which Kingsford Smith replied. "Only three gallons,’’ and passed on amid a laughing. cheering crowd.. Mrs. Smith, the airman’s mother.

then came to the microphone and said, "I am very glad to get the boy back after such a long wait." The announcer said that the crowd had got Litchfield and McWilliam and that Mrs. Ulm had taken her husband away. A memorable few minutes ended ; with passing over to IYA, where the ! announcer said that the Broadcasting j Company joined with listeners in congratulating the flyers on such an historic flight. He led cheers heartily ? given by his staff and after having given 24 hours of excellent service IYA closed down. The times given above are not summer time, so after altering the clock The Sun’s operators, after 24 hours on duty, followed lYA’s example and closed down, too. • LISTENERS-IN HEAR ALL GOOD AUCKLAND RECEPTION In the city streets on Saturday, crowds of people varying in size, gathered wherever radio plants were working, to hear the latest news of the flight’s progress. In Queen Street the progress of the flight was plotted on maps with the arrival of each new announcement of bearings, and in this way, the public was kept well in touch. The night session was a long one for thousands of listeners-in, who kept up their vigil until 3.45 a.m., standard time. It was then that the full description of the landing was put "on the air." The public had excellent service from IYA, which relayed 2BL Sydney. The Auckland station did not cut in on the Sydney account, and this enabled any local listener-in with the humblest crystal set to hear all that happened !at Richmond airdrome during the night.