Skip to main content

Leyland Speed More (Mode?)

More
5 years 10 months ago #194127 by Roderick Smith
I'm posting this for the Leyland Speed More (Mode?), but I'm finding nothing on internet with which to amplify.
9 June 2018 'Hello, Aussies': 90 years ago today, Charles Kingsford-Smith made history.
On this day in 1928, huge crowds gathered in Brisbane to greet the crew of Southern Cross as they completed the first trans-Pacific flight, an 83-hour epic completed in three stages.
First published in 'Sydney Morning Herald' on June 11, 1928.
Crowds greet the Southern Cross on its arrival in Brisbane on 9 June 1928. Photo: Fairfax Media.
Kingsford Smith and Charles Ulm and their two American comrades, Lieut. H Lyon (navigator) and James Warner (radio expert), completed their historic flight from San Francisco to Brisbane at 10.13 this morning, when Southern Cross, looking spick and span, landed gracefully at Eagle Farm aerodrome.
The final hop from Naselai Beach, Fiji, to Brisbane occupied 21 hours 18 minutes.
The crew of the Southern Cross, Mascot, Sydney, 13 June 1928. Photo: Fairfax Media.
Thousands of people gathered at the aerodrome. Many of them appearing on the scene long before daylight, and the aviators were given a tumultuous reception. It was a perfect winter morning.
By means of a temporary station at the hangar, 4QG broadcasting station kept in close touch with the aviators. At 8.40 a radio message came through: "Batteries low. We have not been listening for 30 minutes."
At 8.45 six escorting planes flew out to see if they could locate Southern Cross. At 9.45 Capt. L Brain, manager of Qantas, who was first to take the air, returned to Eagle Farm with a message that he had flown over Moreton Bay at a height of 7000 feet, and after careful scouting had failed to find her. A later message from the 'plane, however, reassured the gathering. This announced that Southern Cross had got off her course, and was flying north with all speed to Brisbane from Ballina (NSW), over which she first passed.
There was a buzz of excitement at ten minutes past 10, when 4QG received a message that the big 'plane was flying over Burleigh Heads. A few minutes later it could be seen coming nearer and nearer, flying at a terrific speed from the
south In a perfectly cloudless though somewhat hazy sky, till its blue body and silver wings were clearly discernible, glistening In the glorious morning sunlight.
Sir Charles Kingsford Smith (right) with fellow aviator Charles Ulm, New South Wales, ca. 1928 Photo: Fairfax Media.
As Southern Cross flew over the hangar the buzz of its mighty engines could be heard well above the other 'planes.
Cheering crowd. The crowd cheered lustily, and simultaneously the sirens of 5000 motor vehicles shrieked a weird welcome. The cheering and tooting swelled into, a deafening crescendo as the monoplane twice circled gracefully over the aerodrome flying so low that the words Southern Cross on the blue background, could be clearly seen. Still flying low, the great 'plane, preparatory to landing, almost touched the trees in the distance, making their top branches tremble as in a storm, Then, turning, she swooped gracefully to the ground, and taxied to the enclosure, while the escorting 'planes curtsied in salute.
It was a wonderful and never-to-be-forgotten sight. The crowd went wild. The frail harriers wore knocked over in the mad rush to greet the aviators. It was an anxious moment for the police as the propellers were still revolving. Mounted troopers galloped to the scene, and with the help of a large body of foot constables the rushing stream of humanity was stemmed in the nick of time.
“Around the sides of flimsy pine barricades the excited crowd surged and jostled, cheering wildly as the smiling face of Kingsford Smith appeared above the cockpit”
The landing. Immediately on landing the 'plane taxied smoothly to the enclosed barricade. Around the sides of flimsy pine barricades the excited crowd surged and jostled, cheering wildly as the smiling face of Kingsford Smith appeared above the cockpit, one hand guiding the great 'plane to a standstill while with the other he waved a cheery greeting to the crowd.
Before the 'plane had stopped, the crowd, in in blithe disregard of the whirling propellers, closed in on the machine in a wild rush to gain a closer glimpse of the aviators as they prepared to climb out of the machine.
Kingsford Smith was first to climb out of the machine, and he acknowledged the cheers of the crowd with a smile and a shout: "Hello, Aussies."
He was followed by Ulm and both demanded cigarettes and inhaled them with luxurious enjoyment.
The navigator Lyons, who is the wag of the party remarked: "Waal, Jim, we've travelled 7000 miles to get a drink." His fellow-American, Warner, who flashed out Morse messages during the memorable flight, was last to descend, and when he leaned against the side of the Southern Cross to get his land legs his battered hat was askew, and he smiled, embarrassed by the warmth of the crowd's welcome. He and Lyon, who were both clad In blue berge suits, were quietly and unostentatiously withdrawing behind the two figures of Kingsford Smith and Ulm, conspicuous for their heavy airmen's uniform and helmets when the crowd pounced on them, and with a cheer hoisted them shoulder high, crying: "Good old Yank."
Other members of the party were also being enthroned on willing shoulders, the men carrying Warner took him over to the barrier until he looked over the sea of faces, and shouted:
"Have a look at him; he's the boy that worked the keys."
Kingsford Smith and his companions were welcomed by the Governor (Sir John Goodwin), the Premier (Mr McCormack), the Vice-Mayor of Brisbane (Alderman Watson), and officials of Queensland Aero Club. Mrs H Steer placed garlands of roses round the airmen's necks.
< www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/hello-...20180609-h116nn.html >

Attachments:

Please Log in to join the conversation.

  • Swishy
  • Offline
  • If U don't like my Driving .... well then get off the footpath ...... LOL
More
5 years 10 months ago #194129 by Swishy
Replied by Swishy on topic Leyland Speed More (Mode?)
Smitty
Gudday m8
U'll find it B a Leyland Speed Model

http://www.fairfaxsyndication.com/Doc/FXJ/Media/TR3/3/0/d/7/FXT274539.jpg?d0

cya

§

OF ALL THE THINGS EYE MISS ................. EYE MISS MY MIND THE MOST

There's more WORTH in KENWORTH
The following user(s) said Thank You: Roderick Smith

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
5 years 10 months ago #194131 by Lang
Replied by Lang on topic Leyland Speed More (Mode?)
I think this is it. Cabs were coach built locally.


Attachments:
The following user(s) said Thank You: Roderick Smith

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
5 years 10 months ago #194139 by overnite
Replied by overnite on topic Leyland Speed More (Mode?)
"Speed more", more than what, a snail?

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
5 years 10 months ago #194170 by mammoth
Replied by mammoth on topic Leyland Speed More (Mode?)
The red one is an RAF type, and although still in production at the time the technology dated back to pre-WWl. The aviators are more likely to be on one of the new models on pneumatic tyres - Terrier, Badger, or Beaver. The cab looks snappy with well defined edges, so while it would have been locally built it is presented as a demonstrator and would likely have come from one of the bigger body builders.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
5 years 10 months ago - 5 years 10 months ago #194176 by Lang
Replied by Lang on topic Leyland Speed More (Mode?)
Steve

That Kingsford Smith photo may? have been taken at Mascot Sydney

Here is a link to a Leyland newspaper add of 1928 still showing solid tyres.

Lang

trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/21213995

Here is Hinkler in Brisbane the same year on a Leyland that looks like the red one above
www.flickr.com/photos/statelibraryqueens...2181/in/photostream/

Here is Sydney shot 1928 still with hard tyres

Attachments:
Last edit: 5 years 10 months ago by Lang.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

Time to create page: 0.504 seconds