Flight Service Appreciated by Listeners

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 10, 21 September 1928, Page 8

Flight Service Appreciated by Listeners

Mbcu appreciative comment, written and verbal, has been received by the Radio Broadeasting Company for the service rendered during the flight. "It is in emergencies such as these that we appreciate the true spirit of the service to the public," writes one listener. "J feel that I cannot let this occasion pass without sending ‘you my heartiest congratulations. and thanks for the wonderful way in which you kept those who have wireless sets in touch with the ‘Southern Cross.’ F tuned in 2FC just to see what was doing and was in time for a full description from Richmond and the take-off of the ‘Southern Gross’ and its gallant crew. I was in touch with your station all through the night. Your: announcer at Sockburn was absolutely. wonderful . I fesl. quite proud of being able to say that it was able: to follow from the time the ‘Southern Cross’ left Sydney until its arrival in Christchurch, an occasion that will never be forgotten. I am sin-. cerely hoping that after the wonderful performance of the New Zealand broadcasting stations the New Zealand listeners will settle down. and realise that we have a company to be proud of." OnE Ton aonteeiall

"On behalf of myself and circle of friends who enjoyed the privilege of listening in on your effort of broadcasting the recent Tasman flight, allow me to thank you and your staff for an enjoyable all-night sitting. Everything. came through lovely and ‘clear, -and your selections made an otherwise dreary wait an enjoyable evening. It was your job and you came through ov. top 100 per cent." Arrangements Good. "[@ is with the greatest pleasure," says another, "that I write to thank you all at 2YA for the magnificent description of the Kingsford Smith Tasman flight. It is quite apparent from the results obtained by listeners that the arrangements made at your studio for the description of the flight were in every way perfect, and worthy of the highest praise. Such actions as this I am sure will go a long way to advancing the splendid work done at 2YA. I am sure that listeners throughout the whole of New Zealand and elsewhere will join in wishing the management of 2YA every success in their good work." | "rr, Announcer-I don’t know. your name-I am very pleased to say we heard everything so elear on Tuesday night right up to the time the flyers eame to Christchurch It was very

‘good indeed. Then at 12 to 1 {to-day was very good. I had a great numbet yunning in asking me ‘What's the news?" I must have had 100 people here on Tuesday night, and we stayed up all through." "Reception was so complete that my 12-year-old daughter, going to school two hours late, was ealled on by the schoolmaster to relate the flight and landing, even the schoolmaster being unaware. that the flight had started." -A Country Party. WUIIS is my first letter to you, but * ~T am not new to Radioland. I ‘um writing now, because there are always growlers, and, no doubt, you may _ get letters complaining about the way ). the Radio Broadeasting Co. handled the Southern Gross flight. The growlers are sure to find some complaint, so I want to get in first, and give you this tip-ignore them. Me R.B.C. are thoroughly deserving of any praise they get, and are to be highly congratulated on their efforts on that night of nights. Throughout the night there was nothing to complain of. 7 I turned on the "juice" at 6 p.m. on Monday night, and did not turn off until after the landing of the Southern Cross, on Tuesday morning. — The transmitting end of the job at Wellington was carried through in a manner which left nothing to be desired. At the home of the writer, the night was made one for rejoicing, and the radio receiver played the part of entertainer. The hop-off from Sydney came over the air quite clearly, and from that the cue was taken to turn on the merriment. Hach announcement was made the excuse for cheering, and. toasts to q be "Airmen," the "Southern Cross," and the "Broadcasting Company," to B which all responded in the proper man-

ner. Everyone entered into the spirit of the thing, and no one thought of bed. 2YA kept up the good work, and © chased away the sleepman. | A bit of a lull was noticeable when, at. about 8 .a.m., the report. was "still no news," but shortly after that came the O.K., and, with a burst of cheers, the party again made the air rattle. About 5 a.m. someone went outside end dragged in the milkman, who went away about half an hour later, with the "radio bug" biting hard. ‘From the moment that the "Southern. Cross" was sighted in Wellington, until the switch-over to 3YA, the party went mad, but 2YA also was excited, and we all helped him sing "Kingsford Smith" till we lost our breath. The landing at Christchurch was the crowning event to an all-night flight, but it was also the grand finale, to, I think, more than one all-night radio party. Now, Mr. Editor, will you please pass op our thanks to the Broadcasting Company for their good work, and tell them that we are all looking forward to the return flight of the Southern Cross, and another example of perfect broadcast station management, So here’s good luck to the airmen, the R.B.C., and last, but far from least,

the "Radio Record.’-

Keith

Ross

Taranaki.

Valued in Chrisichureli. AS§ secretary of the old Listeners’. League I am still in close contact with. great many licensees in the city and country, and on their behalf as well as my own, I desire to express great appreciation to the Broadcasting Company for the admirable way that the station, 83YA, as well as other stations, operated during the recent flight of the Southern Cross from Sydney. People who, in the past, took only a passing interest in radio, were to be found in crowds, around the radio shops where loudspeakers were installed. Coming down Colombo Street towards midnight.on the night of the flight, I thought there. was an accident, but found the crowd was outside a radio shop listening to 8YA and 2YA. The. splendid services during the flight period have brought forth praise from unexpected quarters, and I feel that I must. congratulate the Broadcasting Company on its excellent achievement.

Arthur D.

Ford

(Christchurch).

A Good Word From the Press. TH E writer of the wireless notes in the "Lyttelton Times,’ ‘Proton," comments as follows on the part played by broadcasting in regard to the flight by the Southern Cross:- . The. effectiveness of radio as a means of disseminating information was proved in a remarkable manner on Tuesday last. News of the commencement of the flight was much too late for the evening papers, and very little information as to its prograss or the probable time of arrival appeared in the morning Press.. Nevertheless, many thousands of people were assembled at Sockburn in time to greet the fiyers,. and for hours every road leading to the aerodrome was a streak of dust. Practically .all this preparedness was due to the broadcasting of 3YA.and 2YA. There were, of course, thousands of. people who did not possess radio sets, but they seem te have been in touch

with B.C.L.’s somewhere. Beyond doubt many of them will now invest in sets of their own. "Incidentally, the community owes 2 debt of gratitude to the members of the Broadcasting Company, who so effectively discharged their onerous duties during the night of the flight. oVYA and 3YA were continuously on the air all night, and every scrap of information that come to hand was prompfly put on the air." — "Probably the very first news of the flight that reached New Zealand came through 2BL, Sydney. This station was heard to announce that the Southern Cross had left Richmond aerodrome and was circling over Sydney. Later it announced that the ’plane was heading east, and that the trans-Tasman flight had really begun. Within a few minutes a number of Sydney amateurs were frantically calling New Zealand to give warning of the commencement of the flight. Of course, New Zealand amateurs were under obligation to keep silence on the air, and so could not respond. But the confirmation of 2BL’s broadcast was much appreciated." ,