Evening star., 1928-06-02
AUSTRALIA FLYERS
PREPARE EFORLONC
HOP OVER EQUATOR
Consider Emergency Stop at
British Samoa if Fuel
Supply Runs Low.
7AKE.0FF BY MONDAY
PLANNED BY AVIAT0RS
Crew of Southern Cross Feted at
Honolulu-Found Radio an Aid
in Keeping Course.
By the Associated Press.

<HNGONA1tI4
HONOLULU. June Encouraged by
a successful 2,400-mile flight along the
treacherous Pacific air lane from Oak
land, Calf, the crew of the huge
tri-motored monoplane Southern Cross,
today turned with confidence TO prepar-
atlons for the second and longest hop
in the 7,7S8-mile fight TO Australia.
After covering the distance from Oak
land with some fuel in reserve on their
landing at Wheeler Field here, Capt.
Charles Kingsford-Smith and his three
COMPANIONS faced the problem of plan
nlng 10 fiy 3,l44 miles to Suva or t.
the LEle of Opolu, at British Samoa,
aDoat $500 miles from Hawaii. They
pointed out that they had enough
gasoline to fiy for three hours when they
reached here u hours and % minutes
after leaving the mainland. They left
OAxend with 1900 gallons Of gasoline
and could carry / 500 gallons.
The next hop is recognized By aviators
As Tne most 14rilouS of the journey and
the facilities for landing at Opolu were
recommended by the British Consul
here as being better than those at
Suya-
Suva Making Preparations.
However. the authorities at Suya were
going ahead with preparations 70 re-
ceive the Southern Cross. Reports re-
cefved from there said the municipal
council had ordered number OF trees
chopped away TO provide sufficient clear
ing for a landing as well as take-on
for the third hep 70 Brisbane, Australia.
q distance Of i.795 miles.
Capt. Kingxford-Smith planned 70
sOend most Of his time today at Wheeler
F1eld making thorough check OF the
Southern Cross. II the craft Is found
airxurtty il viii be flown 70 the Island
Of Kauai. one Of the nearby Hawaiian
group and from the BARKING SanoS
runway there, the second hop win take
place.
Prior 70 the inspection, Capt Kings
sord-Smsth said the Southern Cross
had shown such atrworthineSs that ne
cO1Id say definitely that the take-ou
from Barking Sands would be made
eoun--not later fiaan MOodzy unless
poor sying weather prevents.
Tfae Southern Cross rested today with
the tri-naOt0red Bird OF Paradise. the
plane In which Ldeuts. Maitland and
HaxerbeFger made their epochal night
from the mainland In rs hours and %
nlnuteS
Plan Emergency Landing.
with plans under way TO carry 800
xsllone Of gasoline, C. T. p. Uim, Co
04sos. said that the landing proposed al
the Island Of CpCgu would be mace
only fn event that the party discovers
sspon nearing Samoa that the gasoline
supply Is insufficient TO carry them 10
Silva.
After their arrival yesterday the four
ssgmen slept Al Waikiki hotel
ssnau dinner vas fsld In their honor
last night and they planned visit To-
day 70 Cor. Wallace R. harrington, who
1sas at the field yesterday 70 greet them.
whether the radio beacon would De
used on the fight from Barring can0E
zsx undecided. Army authorities ssCDc
ready 70 arrange this service u re-
cueSted
Or the nigns 70 Honolulu the radio
beacon 1uncts0ne6 perfectly for TIE 1rSs
sssee hours, when IL was Lost ~ pae
southern Gross. The direct80ral signals,
which were intended 70 keep the plane
OF q t1s1s course were never picked up
Taest. Cczndg Harry Lyon, navigator,
kept the plane On the course by ceac
reckoning.
Kept Tsueh by Radio.
As q cheek. James Warner, the radio
oDerz1og. kept up STEADY Communication
with ships a1a6 gg2org Bzye shore sta
Ezosax. Agazsogs considered the 01tStand-
.ng feat Oft ne fight 70 be tie exesp-
saoazi success of these radio eonnauas~
cations
During Tnurs1zy night the Goust9egn
Cross sighted three ships with which
sezgcnlaSIst signals we're exchanged. The
nEzns was eosd arc tsas pilots, Kings
sog1 -EBath ard TIN. 10 the front seat,
found ESaeag fs1r-laDe6 Gying csotAes eoza~
1oFsALse.
Tfse clouds through which tkle Goatn-
err Cx11g raced. continued " Dsock
visibility Until Ess< plane was wlraln
1gG miles q EaSaa. The 11St Isle
sagfsGe6 M&S N28snzkez. Upon reaching
OAHU, asse1T 6eS1an&gsoo, a feet u e.
ex9-1 places Dosabec the way " Wheeler
Pxld.
A. esaee@ of steamer whistles and au-
aeaaCs94se ssogns Zyeege6 tfae plane as II
sew Gyeg Hegsa5Slg E4 Wheeler Fsesc
ne Gyege Neye welcomed ~ cyoSc
Yfg4ea 1DeIs1de1 representatives n Ez-
waits official z5sl eaYse life.