Lady McKee Repacks Clothes During Flights

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28269, 6 May 1957, Page 2

Lady McKee Repacks Clothes During Flights

A miniature dayroom which can be converted to sleeping quarters was occupied by two women who flew to Christchurch in the Royal Air Force Comet on Saturday. The dayroom, furnished with royal blue carpet and divans, is in the after part of the jet airliner. One of the women flying in the Comet was the wife of Air Marshal Sir Andrew McKee, officer-commanding-in-chief of the Royal Air Force Transport Command, and the other was one of Sir Andrew McKee’s three sisters, Mrs R. Munson, of Wellington. “Wonderful—no noise and no vibration whatsoever,” was Mrs Munson’s description of the 80minute flight from Ohakea. The dayroom in the Comet has been installed specially for Sir Andrew and Lady McKee on their present tour from Britain. When she is not playing her violin, Lady McKee spends most of her time in flight repacking clothes brought out for wear at the previous stops. “We move so fast that packing and unpacking takes up most of the time. Flying south, I had simply no time at all,” she said. “But that doesn’t matter really. The Comet is a dream place to fly in.” Lady McKee, on her arrival, wore an oatmeal coloured travel coat with lynx fur tuxedo over a brown and white checked tweed tailored suit. Accessories were a cherry red straw hat with brown crocodile skin shoes and handbag. She wore an orchid spray presented by Mrs Eileen Coltman, of Otira, an old family friend. Violin Soloist Lady McKee expressed disappointment that she would not be able to give a concert as a violin soloist while in New Zealand. She plays under the stage name of Cecilia Keating. Her hometown is Greymouth. Lady McKee said she had hoped to give a concert for the New Zealand Broadcasting Service, but there had not been time to arrange one. The service had offered to record a programme.

but Lady McKee said she did nol have time for that.

Two other sisters of Sir Andrew McKee took part in the family reunion. They were Mrs H A. S. Cook and Mrs H. Groves, both of Christchurch. Standard Fittings

The interior of the Comet is more like that of a luxury civil airliner than of a military plane. However, Royal Air Force officers with the aircraft say that all its fittings are standard for British Overseas Airways, which first flew Comets and has reordered later marks.

In -the after part of the plane are two tiny rooms, delightfully furnished and delightfully named: “Senhoras, senoras, ladies” and “Homens, caballeros, gentlemen.” Pink and grey fittings have been used in a tiny, but compact, powder room. The men’s washroom is more austere. Folding doors open from each of the rooms, which have hot and cold running water, to chemical flush toilets. Forward is a stainless steel and chromium-plated galley, six feet by four. There is a cold storage chest for food, refrigeration supplied by freezing cold air blown through it at high altitudes. Precooked meals are carried aboard the aircraft and kept in an oven, heated up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, until required for serving in flight. A battery of “beverage containers” keep drinks ice cold by thermos action or heat tea and coffee.