Flying first claimed

Press, 24 January 1986, Page 1

Flying first claimed

An Australian pilot, Mr Peter Norvill, checks his map on his arrival in 1 New Zealand yesterday after flying from Hobart to Christchurch in his single-engine Cessna XP Hawk. Mr Norvill says his voyage Is the first crossing of the Tasman Sea between Tasmania and New Zealand in a singleengine aircraft Other Tasman flights in small aircraft had been between the mainland of Australia and

New Zealand, he said. The Journey took 1* hours and seven minutes from “wheels off” in Hobart to “wheels on” in Christchurch. Mr Norvill, a grader in New South Wales, has been flying for 17 years. He has a commercial licence and works parttime crop-dusting. He has

also been a flying instructor. Mr Norvill has made several long trips in his aircraft including a flight across Australia between the widest points, which he completed non-stop in 22 hours and II minutes, and a trip round Australia in two days, 12 hours, and 27J minutes,

the fastest time for a single-engine aircraft Ten years ago he came to New Zealand for a few days as a tourist He was hoping to see more of the country this time but unfortunately cloud over the Tasman Sea and the West Coast blocked his view. Mr Norvill will leave tomorrow for Hokitika..

“because it is an hours flying time closer to Australia” and hopes to make a world record on the return trip. He has told friends that he is retiring from long-distance flying on his return but thinks now that there are a number of other things he would like to try, including an attempt to stay in the air for the longest time.. He believes he has the fuel capacity in his aircraft to stay in the air for about 31 hours.