Southern Cross Returns to Australia

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 14, 19 October 1928, Page 9

Southern Cross Returns to Australia

Radio Keeps Listeners in Touch throughout 23-Hour Trip HE return flight of the Southern Cross to Australia has been successfully accomplished and through broadcasting the people of New Zealand and Australia were enabled to keep closely in touch from start to finish. Intense interest was taken in the flight and ali associated with it. The public was hungry for news and thanks to the assistance rendered by the Post and Telegraph Department a service so complete and satisfactory was given that it can be said the public was in touch throughout. Taking off from Blenheim at 4.54 a.m., the plane landed at Richmond aerodrome at 2.16, Australian time, or 4.16 New Zealand summer time, or an actual flying time of 22 hours 52 minutes. Heavy winds were encountered from the start of the flight but as the Australian coast was reached conditions improved, whch. together with the lightening of the load of petrol through consumption, permitted higher speeds to be made.

NNOUNCEMENT that the Southern Cross would leave on Saturday morning at dawn, Wwas made from all stations mnie on Friday evening, and full-time service promised listeners. Incidentally, the announcement ended a long period of tension for all stations Since September 30, the date originally fixed for the departure of the aero plane from Blenheim, the broadeasters have been on the qui vive. There was a prospect that any morning the hoy off would take place, without warning, just as happened in the case of the departure from Australia, so the Broad casting Company made ar ‘ungements which would ensure all stations being ready for any emergency. For nearly a fortnight the company’s operators were practically "standing to" all night. A telephonic system Was ar ‘anged by which the company's representatives at Blenheim could advise all stations. At 3YA two of the staff slept on the premises. In all instances, a telephone bell was alongside each operator. Farewell Messages.

yo witness the departure there Was present quite a big crowd at the Blenheim aerodrome. the countryside having been advised by the flashing of the searchlight early in the evening, and again at 11 p.m., that the departure was a certainty. after many delays. Accordingly, soon after midnight. motor-cars from miles around began concentrating on the ground with a freight of interested pasengers. 80 that by 4.30 there were on ‘the ground over 600. motor-cars and several thousand people. a a

The duties of announcer TOP the Un casion were fulfilled very ably by Mr. CG. A. MacDonald, secretary of the Marlborough Hero Club, upon whose shoulders the weight of organisation in connection with the whole event mainly fell. On taking up the microphone, Mr. MacDonald described the scene, after which( the departing aviators were called forward to bid farewell to listeners. "T am generally known as ‘Smithy’ when I’m talking to you," laughed the yJeader when the announcer had intro- . duced him as Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith. "We want to thank you very sincerely for your hospitality, and to let it be known how deeply we appreciate the kindness and courtesy of our New Zealanc cousins. We hope to be in Sydney by 11 o’clock to-night. Unfortunately we can't make it as fast this time as we did coming over, be-

‘use of the head winds we have to meet. Cheerio." "Good morning, New Zealand," said Lieutenant Ulm, stepping up to the microphone. "Good-morning, Austraia, too, if you can hear me. If want to add my thanks to ‘Spiithy’s’ for the kindness of everybody, from Mr. Coates downwntds. Unfortunately we were not able to visit all the centres of New Zoaland, but we know that you are all interested in our work. I want to tell you that we honestly tried to answer everyone of the telegrams and letters of congratulations we have received, and if one or two have been missed, we're sorry. Thanks very, very much, und good cheer."

Mr. Litehtield also thanked the many people who aad sent him congratuliatory messages "Good-bye and thank you for the good time you have given is in New Zealand," he said, "cheerio everybody, we will be in Sydney tonight." "I nm awfully sory, the other chaps have spoken so long and have kept you out ef bed," said the cheery "Mie." "Thanks very much for the wonderful time. Good luck to all you people in New Zealand and in Australia too if you ean hear me. Hullo, Richmond Aerodrome, get plenty of hot water rendy for us: when we arrive, and ‘Stiffy,’ get some of those cannon balls polished up. We will need them too. — Good-bye, though. T won't say that. for TL will be coming back soon, Au revoir, . everybody."

The Start of the Flight. "PUBY are getting into the "plane now," suid the announcer at Blenheim. "The engines are being tuned up and no doubt the rour is drowning my voice completely, All along the mile run-way people are lined up. Despite the early morning there are 500 to 600 motor-cars OD the ground. The Southern Cross is now taxi-ing out of its hangar," continued the announcer. "Phe engines are working beautifully, and you will hear them clearly. The exhausts are spitting fireworks. The interior of the Southern Cross is brightly lighted and looks very coimfortable in this very dull and cloudy morning. A good northerly breeze is plowing, and the morning would not seem to be an auspicious one for a flight to Australia." All this time one could hear the whirring of the engines, the aerople ne being about 75 yards from the aAnnouncer, who said, "When you hear them accelerate, the ’plane will be off."

However, a lot of people then began to straggle across the run-way, and & motor-car, followed soon by two others, went down to clear the course. Then the whirr of the engines increased to " roar. "She's off,’ said the uarrator, "and she’s already wel! down the run-way. The two Bristol tighters are off, too. and are :lready in the air. The South: ern Cross has not left the ground yet. now she's in the air-at six minutes to five---after covering about 600 yards

of the course. She is mountiing very slowly, now she’s 100 feet up, and is beginning to circle the aerodrome. She’s 150 feet up, and is heading straight for the hangar. A moment later the roar of the eteines proclaimed that the *plane was directly above the microphone. "She's heading B.N.E. in the direcrion of Cloudy Bay," continued the announcer. "Now the Southern Cross and the two Bristol fighters are over Blenheim, flying steadily. They are

now making right for the straits, the two Bristols following the Southern Cross, one on each flank. They are. turning slightly more to the north. Now they are out of sight behind tall poplar trees. They are going on a long journey, those boys, and God speed them." . The aeroplane was out of sight of Blenheim aerodrome at 5o0’clock. Thirteen minutes later wireless communication was established with New Zealand stations, her exact position being given as 40.44, south, and 174.09 east, or about 15 miles north of Stephen Island. Her speed was 49 knots. At 7.30 she reported all well. The Maheno, which left Wellington at noon yesterday, had then been passed. At 8.30 a.m. the ’plane wirelessed "All well’; it was then doing 50 knots and was fiying at an altitude of 500 feet. The Trip Across. £& do not think it necessary tou follow in full details the course of the flight. Under the advice of Dr. Kidson, Government Meteorological Service, a course was set to the northward of the direct route, and as a consequence early announcements of the position of the ’plane enabled the position to be plotted as being at that time 90 miles north of the direct. Sydney-Wellington steamer route. A distinct service to listeners was rendered in this connection by Mr. Ivan

M. Levy. of the staff of "The Dominion" newspaper and a keen radio enthusiast. Having armed himself with 2 first-class Admiralty chart he was able, on the positions being given, to plot the position and estimate the distance covered and to be covered, This was a very happy thought, and of distinct value to listeners in enabling them to assess the progress’ being made. HROUGHOUT the afternoon news of the flight was a little bare, but the announcements in the children’s hour of the position at 6 o’clock, indicating an increase in the rate of speed (presumably because of better weather conditions) were heartening. In the early stages of the flight, when "bucking" the bad head winds, the advice had been given to fiy low to reduce resistance, but at 8 p.m. the news came that the Southern Cross had climbed to 6000 feet. At this time she was computed to be 292 miles from Sydney, and the expectation was formed that arrival would be effected about 12.80-in fact messages to that effect were sent from the ‘plane to Mrs. Kingsford Smith (the captain’s mother) and Mrs. Ulm, but in point of actual fact it was 2.16 before landing was made. ) Nearing the Landing. S from about midnight 2YA turned more and more to 2BL and 2MF for news. On first picking up 2ME static was bad and reception poor, but after a time adjustments and conditions improved reception, so that a very excellent relay, indeed, was given. The announcer at 2ME was in good fettle, and made the most of the crowd, the playing of the motor-car headlights, and the vagaries of the flond-lighting system. lixcitement became keen when it Wil announced that the ‘plane that she had picked up lights which they took to be Neweastle. Shortly afterwards messages from Newcastle reported the sighting and hearing of the ‘plane, and thence onward there was a rapid medley of messages from various points on the 70-mile stretch between Sydney and Neweastle as to the passage of the ‘plane. AS was perhaps but to be expected the actual landing-the wheels touched the ground at 4.16 New Zealand summer time, or 2.16 Australian time-proved too much for the enthusiasm of the crowd, and the aviators were mobbed. With some difficulty, Captain Kingsford-Smith was taken to the microphone, and spoke a few words. expressing his pleasure at the safe return, but the rest of the crew escaped the microphone. And so ended the 28-hour flight and the 28-hour spell on duty of the New

Zealand stations. The service, it can safely he said, was excellent, and listeners were given all that was possible in the matter of news and entertainment. Thanks are due to Mr. 8. R. McCarthy, of Mack’s Radio Co., for his services in picking up 2ME and other stations during the day. A Sidelight. NE point that was mentioned by the BYA announcer at midnight might well be put on permanent record here. From the commencement of the session, at a little after 4 a.m., fill the time of speaking, then midnight, the two telephones of the station had not ceased ringing with various inquiries and requests from the public. A great proportion of these requests, we learned subsequently, were from those not possessed of listening sets, who desired the latest news of the flyers. Others were from listeners who wished a particular gramophone item played; others were desivous of knowing "what was that record played about 4.33 this morning?’ While all these requests were answered courte-ously-and in the case of gramophone requests, advised that a little list was being kept, and as many complied with as possible-it is obvious that the md cessant telephoning imposed an extri burden upon the staff, sometimes at awkward moments, such as when relaying was in progress. Since the telephone is essential to the service, the only remedy is to ask the public to be as considerate as possible-and for those who have not got sets, to get them as soon as possible! . Some of the requests created a little humour. For instance, shortly before 11 o’clock, one of the announcers was startled to hear a firm, feminine voice demand over the ’phone, "Have you ‘Wings? " "No, madam," he instantly replied, "I, must confess I have not as yet, but I hope to some day."