Summary Charles Kingsford Smith's transpacific flight comprised of three legs totaling 7,306 miles in 82 hours. His three-legged journey from the United States to Australia involved stops in Hawaii and Fiji. Kingsford Smith's aircraft 'Southern Cross' had a cruising speed of 106 mph and was registered under NC1985, G-AUSU, VH-USU.
Australia and New Zealand are renowned for being some of the most isolated countries on the planet, located deep in the South Pacific ; international travel to and from this area usually requires a substantial amount of time on an airplane. However, while aviation today is contrastingly different from many years ago, it's worth acknowledging those who pioneered aviation in this region. Charles Edward Kingsford Smith and his crew onboard their May and June 1928 flight earmarked how we travel today.
Charles Edward Kingsford Smith (Sir, Military Cross, and Air Force Cross) was born in Brisbane on February 9, 1897, and was more commonly known as Smithy. He was an Australian aviation pioneer and the first to pilot a transpacific flight and the first flight between Australia and New Zealand. He grew up in Sydney and left school at 16 to become an apprentice in engineering.
He joined the army in 1915 and was a motorcycle despatch rider in the Gallipoli campaign, later transferring to the Royal Flying Corps. After being shot, he was awarded the Military Cross in 1917. Once the war was over, he worked as a barnstormer in England and the US before returning t.