FLIGHT OF CLIPPER

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 398, 3 April 1937, Page 6

FLIGHT OF CLIPPER

EASE AND SECURITY. Guest Partv Carried Nearly 600 Miles ; Press Association—Copyright. Auckland, April 2. | Luxurious ease and security were I outstanding among the impressions ! gained in the course of a four and a half hours’ flight in the Pan-American (Sikorsky clipper this morning. Travelling in the utmost comfort and with every possible provision for their eni joyment' of the trip, a party of 13 guests flew nearly 600 miles in the clipper and enjoyed every mile. The flight was without incident and only the novelty ot flying in so huge a ship and the perfection of every de- | tail of the arrangements relieved the monotony. In the sure hands of Captain Musick, to whom a flight of 600 miles is merely a part of the morning’s work, the clipper sailed serenely over land and ttea at altitudes ranging from 5000 feet to 8000 feet, her four supercharged engines running with tireless perfection, carrying her at speeds of up to 170 miles an hour. Plans made for a goodwill visit to Wellington and a return flight with a semi-official pitrty were abandoned when reports >eceived early revealed that there was a 40 miles an hour wind on the harbour. Favourable reports were received i from the East Coast as far south ! Napier and it was agreed to fly in ' that direction instead. A gentle I climbing turn took the Sikorsky over Point Chevalier and at 3000 feet Captain Musick levelled off and cruised bacl; across the city, already I partly obscured by low-lying clouds. A steward handed a piece of chew-'ing'-gum o each passeitgeirj, Ing for th a benefit of the incredulous that the effect ot chewing would relieve pressure on the ears. The ship sailed easily down the gulf and over Thames and the Cormandel Peninsula, and lieoded for Tauranga. Young Nicks Head, the first land sighted when Captain Cook sailed to New Zealand, was reached in 90 minutes. Men working on the East Coast railway looked to see the clipper droning high above them and a few minutes later it was the tprn of the passengers to be surprised. A north-bound De Havilland Dragon ot East Coast Airways, gleaming silver against the dull ground, passed far below, dwarfed by distance but clear enough to be easily distinguished for many miles. Great «s was the interest of residents of Napier. Hastings and Watroa in the machinb which loomed suddenly out of the sky, the crew were equally interested to see from such a fine vantage point the areas devastate by the Hawke's Bay earthquake and the remarkable recovery apparent in the new buildings. Cocktails and Biscuits. After circling over Napier the clipper was headed back toward Auckland with a.n automatic pilot in charge. Cocktails and biscuits served by a steward made a surprising appe.arance in the early stages of the return flight. The guests, however, did not allow their amazment to interfere with their thorough enjoyment of the fine service provided, and so steady was the ship that a trayful of brimming glasses was carried swiftly from seat to seat without a drop of the contents being spilled. Flying rather more inland than on the downward trip, the clipper was well above billowing masses of cloud that concealed most of the ground. Occosional glimpses of Lake Waikaremoana were caught through breaks lij the cloud bank, but it was not until the machine was again nearing Auckland and was commencing to lose altitude again that a clear view was obtained of the Hauraki Plains and the country to the north. The deep dull, note ot the motors was suddenly conspicuous by its absence. A long glide was commenced miles from Auckland, end the clipper, steadily losing height, seemed reluctant to return to the harbour. As the altitude decreased a sensa-. tioif of extreme speed was apparent for the first time, and the surface of the harbour seemed to be snatched away astern. Without the slightest jar and even unnoticed by some of the passengers, the keel sliced the smooth water, bit deeper and sent a shower of spray high into the air. As the speed suddenly dropped the clipper was turned swiftly and taxied neatly in to where a waiting assistant took hei’ lines. In time for’ lunch, the guests stepped ashore. In just four and a quarter hours they had flown 592 miles and even the most experienced of several highly qualified pilots among the passengers could not resist looking back at the latest marvel ot safe commercial aviation.