LANCASTRIAN'S FAST TRIP

Chronicle (Levin), 27 November 1946, Page 6

LANCASTRIAN'S FAST TRIP

AUCKLAND, Nov. 26. Flying 1430 nautical miles from Meibourne in the exceptionally fast time of 6 hours 34 minutes, an R.A.F. Transport Command Lancastrian arrived at Whenuapai this afternoon in the course of a route familiarisation trip from England. The Lancastrian is paying its second visit to New Zealand within about four months. It brought the Minister of Finance (Mr. Nash) from England in July and took the New Zealand delegation part of the way to Paris for the Peace Conference on its return fliglit. Eour of the crew of 11 on the Lancastrian are New Zealanders. The Captain of the aircraft is Flight Lieutenant C. D. Milne, of Christchurch, and the other New Zealanders aboard were Wing Commander C. W. K. Nicholls, of Auckland, Oornmandmg Ofiicer of No. 22 Squadron to which the men are attaclied; Flight Lieutenant K. B. Smith, of Otaki, and Flying Ofiicer J. B. Nicholls, a brother of the commanding oliicer. Three New Zealand members oi the R.A.F. were travelling as passengers. They were Wing Oommander J. G. Fraser, of Auckland; Wing Oommander E. H. Mellardy, of Waipawa; and Squadron Leader H. R. Hall of Wellington. Flight Lieutenant Milne said they left England last Tuesday morning and stoppcd at Cairo, Ivarachi, Ceylon, Singapore, Darwin and Meibourne. They cruised at over 200 knots from Meibourne witli a tail wind of 45 knots some of the way. Their top ground speed on the flight was 235 knots. Their flying time of 6 hours 34 minutes in■luded a sliort timo they spent 'Ooolcing around Auckland" before they landed. Ile considered tho flight' was made in very good time. They had reilucecl their planned flying time by ubout 20 minutes. It is not known whethcr tho Lancastrian made a record-breaking flight from Meibourne, Few aircraft have llown direct from there to Auckland and oilicial records of the flying tinies are not kejd for this route. The Lancastrian will l'cnnui at Whenuapai until it begiiis its return journey in about live (lays.