UNUSUAL VISITOR

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 58, 3 April 1946, Page 5

UNUSUAL VISITOR

JET PROPELLED AIRCRAFT FOUR MINUTES OVER WHAKATANE Wide interest was taken by business people and residents of Whakatane in the new jetpropelled ’plane which visited Whakatane in the course of its tour of New Zealand yesterday. Forewarned of the visit, which was timed to take place at 10.23 a.m. almost all those in shops and offices in the Strand were on the street several minutes beforehand (some even ascended Hillcrest) waiting for the new fighter aircraft to appear, and although unable to perform aerobatics, owing to the long range petrol tank it carried, the ’plane exceeded almost all ex-

pectations in the way of spectacle. It flew very low, and very fast, and with a total absence of the deafening din usually associated with a low-flying aircraft. Instead, the only sound was a rushing noise, as of air being forced at great pressure through a narrow passage, changing to a deeper roar when the throttles were opened. The aircraft came to Whakatane from Tauranga, arriving over the town from the sea coast at exactly 10.23 a.m. It swept over the town in a right hand bank which carried it into a wide circle over the mudflats before anyone on the ground had quite woken up to the fact that it

had actually flown over the top of them.' Back it came, this time straight down the Strand at a very low altitude, and turned over the heads to complete a figure of eight. It came in again from its original direction, and this time swept straight over the squar? and over Hillcrest disappearing suddenly behind the hill, bringing spectators holding their breath waiting for the crash, back to earth with a jolt. Out of sight, for approximately twenty seconds, it suddenly came round the Pohaturoa Rock, and up the Strand like a bullet. In a matter of seconds it had reached the hills above the Heads, and the motors emitted a

roaring sound as the throttles were opened, the nose pointed up, and the ’plane disappeared over the crest en route for Opotiki and Gisborne. The whole visit lasted approximately four minutes, although the time seemed far shorter. The aircraft itself had something of the appearance of a Spitfire, but with a longer thinner fuselage, and a larger tail unit. It had two motors, one on

either wing, and the pilot’s cockpit was situated in the nose. It can safely be said that all who were outside at the time of the visit witnessed a sight undreamt of, except perhaps in scientific circles, even five years ago—who knows what sights the next five might unfold?