THE SOUTHERN CROSS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 25, 27 December 1932, Page 10

THE SOUTHERN CROSS.

FAMOUS ’PLANE’S VISIT. THREE DAYS’ STAY ARRANGED. Arrangements have practically been finalised for the visit to Palmerston North by the famous ’plane Southern Cross which, piloted by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, will arrive at the Milson aerodrome, according to schedule, at ftoon on Saturday, February 4. It will be at Palmerston North for three days. Accompanied by Mr A. W. Nesbit, secretary of the Wellington Aero Club, and Mr B. Shields, service officer and aero pilot of the Vacuum Oil Company, Mr Wilfrid Kingsford Smith, brother of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, arrived in Palmerston North yesterday afternoon to discuss with officials of the Manawatu Aero Club the arrangements for the visit of the Southern Cross. He inspected the Milson aerodrome facilities in company with Mr W. A. Waters, president of the Aero Club. It is proposed to put in hand immediately certain work, including provision for dropping one fence to give ample landing and taking-off space in the event of the weather being calm when the Southern Cross arrives. Final details were arranged last evening at an informal meeting at which Mr D. Smiliie (president of Milson Aerodrome Inc.) Mr W. A. Waters .(president of the Manawatu Aero Club) and the secretary, Mr Iv. G. Chamberlain, were present.

It was reported that Sir Charles Kingsford Smith would be accompanied to Palmerston North by a party of eight, which includes three mechanics and aeroplane specialists. The Manawatu Aero Club will arrange for the entertaining of Sir Charles, but in this connection lie is also to give a lecture with a film of some of liis previous flights. The Southern Cross takes up on each trip a load of 14 passengers. The ’plane holds two world’s records that have never been beaten. The first is that it has lifted a load of petrol and pilots equal to 75 adult passengers, and on this load the weight lifted equalled 481 b on each square foot of wing surface —a world’s record that still stands. The other world’s record is the long flight across the ocean for an aeroplane—Honolulu to Suva, 3380 miles. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith will be in New Zealand for six week-ends and the Manawatu Aero Club is fortunate in having had one of the week-ends allotted to this district. One of the greatest difficulties confronting Sir Charles and his party is the large ground with good approaches required to handle sucli a big plane, and the calmer the- weather the larger the ground has to be. Tlie Southern Cross will be accompanied on its tour by the Wellington Aero Club’s Waco ’plane, and Sir Charles will visit other centres in the Waco where the grounds are too small to handle the Southern Cross.

Mr Wilfrid Kingsford Smith and party left for Wanganui late last evening.