Two Epics of Radio and Aerial Navigation

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 11, 28 September 1928, Page 5

Two Epics of Radio and Aerial Navigation

HE success of the Southern Cross and the achievement of her radio in keeping in contact with the distant shores recalls the tragic epics of the past. The radio equipment carried on the recent flight was a duplicate of that used on the ill-fated Dallas Spirit, with whose equipment radio history was subsequently made. BOUT twelve months ago, four ‘planes set out from America, in a race to Honolulu. Nine had entered but four only had taken off successfully. Two only reached the goal. Of these four ’planes the winner only catrried radio equipment. Subsequent to the mysterious dlisappearance of the two planes, the Dallas Spirit, one of the five that had failed to get away, took off on a flight to -Honolulu over a_ zig-zag course, searching for the lost flyers. As this. involved a greater distance than laid out for the contest flights, a maximum load of gasoline was taken aboard, and a course laid out which would take them over as much as possible of the region where the lost flyers might be found. The 33-metre transmitter was removed from one of the damaged ‘planes and installed in the Dallas Spirit. Both the aviators were expert operators, and thoroughly familiar with radio telegraphy. The circuit (identical, of course, with that of the Southern Cross) is the well-known tuned-grid-plate circuit. and one frequently used in various types of transmitters. The transmitter was of the fixed tuning type adjusted to 33.1 metres, and the grid tuning condenser adjusted permanently. pea eee eee Oo -----

"PHE plane left Oakland air port at 2 pm., and its signals were immediately ‘picked up. Reporters took down the log as fast as it was received. The keys were kept closed on the ‘plane when no messages were to be transmitted, so that the listeners heard a continuous 240-cycle note-this was the hum of the transmitter’s generator. his note did not vary in intensity or wavelength during*the entire flight, except when the tail spits ended the flight in tragedy. As evening came aud the ’plane reached a distance of 500 miles from the shore, the signals continued to remain constantly strong at all times. Reports of their reception came in from Ltaly, the South Atlantic, and from all districts of the U.S.A. In New York, the entire transmission was picked up by the "New York Times" station, so that the news Was released to the Press as fast as it was transmitted from the ’plane. A complete log covering six hours ended with a climax which is seared across the memory of those who listened. WHEN the tail spins came the whine of the generator rose to above 500 cycles, indicating that the "plane was going at a rate of over 200 miles an hour, Throughout both tail spins the generator functioned perfectly, the voltage regulators preventing the valve from being overloaded, and the transmitter wave remained steady. The fact that the operator (Hichwaldt) remained at the key sending out dots and dashes of his last message while the ’plane was hurling downward at a sickening speed is an everlasting

tribute to his courage and presence of mind, even in the face of certain death. ‘Those who listened on shore will never forget the howling and screeching of the note when the ’plane went into the tail spins and KGCA was no more, after a life of six and a half hours. The Aotea-roa. TY this time when the triumphs of the Southern Cross is on everyone's lips, our thoughts wing back to that valiant January endeavour, when the evening skies were scanned for the airmen who never came. Iixactly eight months before the victorious Southern Cross achieved its great victory and blazed a fresh trail the first air drama of the Tasman was staged. BEFORE dawn on January 10, the Ryan monoplane skimmed lightly from the Richmond aerodrome, and, like a bird, rose and without hesitation set out on her long journey. The first flickers of the rising sun ereeted the ‘plane flying strongly for her objective. The day without a morrow had broken on the intrepid airmen.

TDAHE Aotea-roa was equipped with a radio equipment not to be compared with that of her successor. The cireuit was simple, and was set to emit only automatic signals every quarter of an hour. This signal was a whine as that caused by a howling valve, As the ’plane headed for the homeland of her pilots, the signals grew fainter, until at 11.20 a.m., when about 500 miles from the Australian coast, the signals faded out and listeners in both countries waited on the tip- ‘toe of expectation. But as time went and neither .reliuble signal nor sign came, apprehension spread. Far into the night hope ran high, but as the dawn approached. and no sign, fears were entertained and became alarming as time dragged on-then the grim truth was. realised. Kither the Tasman, or the unexplored bush country, had claimed its ransom. OW two wreaths float out on that watery waste, grimly reminiscent of two gallant New Zealanders who sacrificed all to bring honour to their country. waletnenatea ad --