EVANS BAY AIR BASE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 107, 18 February 1950, Page 5

EVANS BAY AIR BASE

OVERSEAS EXPERT’S HIGH OPINION (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 17. The chairman of the British Overseas Airways Corporation (Sir Miles Thomas) considers Evans Bay an ex- f cellent site for a flying-boat base, presenting no operational difficulties. Tills opinion Sir Miles Thomas gave in a press interview. He enthusiastically supported the

development of a flying-boat link between Wellington and Sydney. “I have had a quick look at Evans Bay and our experts have all seen it and regard it as an excellent flying base,” he said. “Wellington, because of its / geographical features and their restriction of a landpiane service, should certainly be served by flyingboat. Not only is Evans Bay a natural site for a base, but the Wellington Harbour Board is being most helpful and sympathetic in its consideration of the project.” Sir Miles Thomas said he had travelled to Wellington by way of Paraparaumu. The long road trip from there to the city, he considered an anachronism in these days of fast travel.. .. .... “it’s no good taking passengers and goods at 300 miles an hour and then travelling the last part of the journey at about 20 miles an hour,” he said. He considered'the geographical situation of New Zealand made it a tailormade route for flying-boat operations, particularly for the Solent flying-boats used on the trans-Tasman service. The Solent, he believed, gave excellent service. __ „ He considered it important to New Zealand that a strong, fully operative fleet of flying-boats be maintained, because they were of great strategic value as well as convenience. Maintenance of a fleet of that type meant that the. prospect of isolation in the event of world hostilities would be reduced.