Historic Trans-Tasman Flight

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 10, 21 September 1928, Unnumbered Page

Historic Trans-Tasman Flight

Radio Enables Dominion to "See’’ Famous Scene

K exceptional interest as have aroused such an _ interest been some broadcasts in the past, on no occasion has the Broadcasting Company rendered such a _ service, or among the public as it dia on the occasion of the historic first trans-Tasman flight. It was by the four New Zealand stations that the New Zealand public was advised. of the departure of the "Southern Cross" ‘from Sydney; it was by radio that the public was kept apprised of the progress of the aeroplane travelling across the Tasman, it was by radio that listeners "saw" it aver Wellington, saw" it reach Christchurch, "saw" it land, "saw" the wildly enthusiastic crowd breaking the barriers, heard the cheering and heard the speeches of the aviators; in fact, "caw? and heard everything. Letters have been received by the Broadcasting Company from various parts of New Zealand saying that the broadcasting of the trans-Tasman flight was alone worth the 30/- license fee. MANY laurels, metaphorically, have been ‘placed on the heads of the staffs at the four stations. Without a break they remained at their posts during the whole nmantnd of the flisht and until there was

rreronn == nothing more to broadeast. Though the day of the flight, Monday, was silent day for 1YA and AYA, so constant had been the watch kept on _ the Australian stations that both 1YA and 4YA (as well as 2YA and B8YA, of course) were able to advise the public that the "Southern Cross" had hopped off. From then q on there was no break in the broadcasts from any of the stations. SCo=] TTT | MIMI

BY arrangement with the Post and Telegraph Department 2YA received all official information and this was duly picked up by the other stations. Static

was wicked that evening, but the station operators combed the ether and all information was broadeast. At other times the New Zealand and Australian stations were rebroadcast and listeners were even tuned into the aeroplane. People who listened in all night had a very interesting time, but the company’s practice of announcing all news every hour (as well as immediately it was received) was a great convenience and was_ widely appreciated. ; With the ’plane landing at Christchurch, the responsibility of handling the main portion of the flight rested on 8YA. It was arranged that after the ‘plane reached New Zealand, 1YA, 2YA and 4YA should rebroadcast 3YA. 3YA was on the air for 18 hours. THE LANDING. "*YA staff were ac the Wigram Aerodrome by 7 o’clock, earlier than was anticipated but nevertheless not too early for 3YA, and were located on a coign of vantage-the roof of one of the hangars. It was a brilliant spring morning. When it was known that the "Southern Cross" had flown over Wellington and was heading south, public excitement became intense. And the principal means of disseminating the news was radio. 7 » =

4458 tne time of tne expected arrival at Christchurch approached, traffic to Sockburn increased and every high roof in the city was crowded with people looking keenly to the north. From Wigram Aerodrome four Bristol fighters set out to meet the Southern Cross and act as escort to the landing place. They disappeared into the light mist. (Continued on page 5.) So] OTT LOTTTPTITTT TTT TTT Tritihiliiiiilisilidiillliiiiliiflislilfirliilliita

Historic Lrans-Tasman Flight ¥ (Continued from cover.) L_LISTENERS-IN heard each machine start up with a roar and take off and the. picturesque scene at Sockburn was graphically and interestingly described. A mighty roar an- ' nounced that the Gloster Grebe was taking to the air and this exceptionally fast machine under Captain Findlay entertained the waiting crowd with a session of sensationai stunting. The mist over the plain was quickly dispersing and at last out of the haze in the northern distance came five aeroplanes, one very much larger than the rest. They were described from the roof of 3YA by the aid of binoculars, but for some time later it was impossible for the naked eye to detect them, and then at first only the giant "Southern Cross." The aeroplanes did not fly over the city but headed straight for Sockburn. The "Southern Cross" circled the aerodrome and the roar of her engines was distinctly heard by all listeners. The great ’plane with its blue body and silver wings was flying only a hundred to two hundred feet above the heads of the crowd. Then said the announcer: "She is landing now-she is forty feet off the ground-the wheels have touched-she has jumped a few feet into the air and down again-a perfect landing only a few feet from the marked landing circle-the time is 9.23." SPEECHES BROADCAST. HE ‘Southern Cross" had landed i People from one end of New Zealand to the other knew it-at 9.28 too. But radio had not finished its part in the great flight. The speeches were to follow. Mr. McWilliams spoke from the aerodrome and Squad. ron-Leader Kingsford Smith and Flight Lieutenant Ulm spoke from the studio of 8YA. Next day followed the civic welcome and that evening listeners were enabled to overhear all-or most-that was said at a Returned Soldiers’ smoke concert tendered to the airmen. The Broadcasting Company’s stations handled the flight with splendid efficiency, but the company does not claim all the credit to itself. This was borne out in an interview which Mr. A. R. Harris, General Manager of the Company, had with a Christchurch "Star" reporter on the day of the flight. In the course of that interview Mr. Harris said that the company and listeners were deeply indebted to the Post and Telegraph Department for its whole-hearted coies The Department had no trouble to keep the radio switions posted with the latest reports and it had installed a first-class land line to the aerodrome, a distance of seven miles. Mr. Harris also referred to the great assistance that he had received from Mr. P. R. Climie (Secretary of the Canterbury Progress League), Major T. M. Wilkes (Director of the Air Services), and Captain J. L. Findlay (officer commanding the aerodrome). .