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    Australian-born Smithy, as Kingsford-Smith was called by his friends, a former WWI squadron leader, barnstormer, Hollywood stuntman, and bush
pilot, was already famous for daring long distance flights, when he and Charles T.P. Ulm decided to try the first crossing of the Pacific.
In 1927 they bought the Fokker wreckage from Wilkins, without engines and instruments. With the help of the Boeing company, the plane was
rebuilt using 220hp Wright J-5 Whirlwind engines, modified for increased range, stuffed with the newest radio and navigation equipment, and named
'Southern Cross'.


This plane was to become the most popular individual aircraft of its era,equalling or even eclipsing the fame of the contemporary Ryan 'Spirit of
St. Louis' of Lindbergh.

But the Pacific flight was still far ahead. Financial support was secured from the wealthy Californian Allen Hancock. Kingsford-Smith and Ulm
made test flights to determine the maximum fuel load which still allowed the Southern Cross to barely take off and fly. A first record, a flight
around Australia in 10 days and 6 hours was considered as a test for the Pacific crossing. In early 1928, the Southern Cross was transferred to
North America - by ship.

On May 31, 1928, the Southern Cross took off in Oakland, with Kingsford-Smith, Ulm, and the two additional crew members Harry W. Lyons and James
W. Warner aboard. 27 hours and 27 minutes later they landed at Wheeler Field in Honolulu. That was the easy part of the flight - after all, the
route California-Hawaii had already been mastered by three other planes, not counting the four aircraft which had been lost on the route, together
with their crews. From now on the route would lead over 'terra incognita', from the aviation point of view.

The Southern Cross left Hawaii on June 2, taking off from Kauai. The 3,200 miles over the open sea between Hawaii and the Fiji Islands were a nightmare
of tropical rainstorms, headwinds and turbulence. The combined strength of Kingsford-Smith and Ulm was necessary to keep the plane under control.
After 34 1/2 hours of continuous battle against the elements the Southern Cross touched down at Suva, on the Fiji Island of Viti-Levu. The largest
clearing on the Fijis was a 1,300-foot athletic field, and Kingsford-Smith had to perform a controlled ground-loop to prevent going into the trees,
the Southern Cross having no brakes.

The 21 hours of the final leg to Australia proved to be even more terrible. In Kingsford-Smith's own words: "One after another, rainstorms charged us.
There was no lull. We flew in a black void as raking winds jolted the plane." On June 4, 1928, the exhausted airmen reached Brisbane, on the east coast
of Australia. The Pacific was defeated.

 

         

 

On May 31, 2003, (from left to right) Howard Goldberg, Vice President of Qantas Airways, and Peter Frank, Australian Consul General, were among many who commemorated the anniversary of the first flight across the Pacific Ocean. Seventy-five years ago, two Australian pilots, Charles Kingsford-Smith and Charles Ulm, assisted by two Americans, Harry Lyon and James Warner, made the first successful transpacific flight, flying from Oakland, California, to Brisbane, Australia, in three legs. In commemoration of this distance-breaking event, Qantas celebrated the arrival of its newest Boeing 737-800 at Oakland International Airport’s Kaiser Air Terminal. The aircraft departed Oakland and retraced the flight path of the original historic flight to Sydney, Australia, via Hawaii, Fiji and Brisbane on a memorable 75th anniversary voyage. VIP guests included Charles A. Kingsford-Smith, son of Sir Charles E. Kingsford-Smith, pilot on the first transpacific flight, and Captain Alex Passerini, Qantas Airways B737 Captain.
 

Howard Goldberg (right), vice president of Qantas Airways, and Captain Alex Passerini (second from right), Qantas Airways B737 Captain, and crew welcomed Charles A. Kingsford-Smith (second from left), son of Sir Charles E. Kingsford Smith who piloted the first transpacific flight 75 years ago, and Charles Ulm (left), grandson of Charles Ulm who co-piloted the transpacific flight with Kingsford-Smith. Both relatives were among many community members, aviation enthusiasts and Qantas executives who gathered to commemorate the anniversary of the first flight across the Pacific Ocean. Seventy-five years ago, the two Australian pilots were assisted by two Americans, Harry Lyon and James Warner, and made the first successful transpacific flight, flying from Oakland, California, to Brisbane, Australia, in three legs. In commemoration of this distance-breaking event, Qantas celebrated the arrival of its newest Boeing 737-800 at Oakland International Airport’s Kaiser Air Terminal. The aircraft departed Oakland and retraced the flight path of the original historic flight to Sydney, Australia, via Hawaii, Fiji and Brisbane on a memorable 75th anniversary voyage.

In recognition of this extraordinary heroic feat and the wonderful recreation 75 years later by Qantas, for the remainder of 2004, at QVA, you can recreate any of the above flights using our 738 aircraft available on the fleet 737 page, or the Southern Cross files available right here. Just request using normal charter protocols to Qva Operations. The Southern Cross is rated as Cat 3 for this charter exercise.   

Southern Cross Fs2000/FS2002

Southern Cross Fs95/Fs98.

any Qantas Boeing 737 800 all FS varieties

or the aircraft for FS2004 only VH-VXP courtesy AVSIM