FLYING-BOAT FACILITIES

Chronicle (Levin), 18 January 1947, Page 6

FLYING-BOAT FACILITIES

—Press Assvciation

Study To Be Made By A British Expert

By Telegraph-

AUCKLAND, Jan. 17. Oue oi' tlie leading iigures in tlie Bri tisli aireraft industry, Sir John Buchanan, C.B.E., F.R. Ae.S., will ar rive in Auckland on Monday to make a brief tour of Kew Zeaiand. During the war Sir John lieid the important position of Direetor-Generai of Aireraft Production. In 1915 lie transferred to the position of technieal director oi Shorts, the iirst manufacturers of air eraft in the world. Since the war, New Zeaiand has had keveral important visitors who' were eonnecled with aviation in the Uniteu Kingdom. The visit of Sir John Buehanau follows the one made last year by Lord Winster, tlien Minister ot Uivil Aviation in the United Kingdom Govermnent, and Lord Knollys, chair man of the British Overseas Airways Corporation. Botli Lord Winster and Lord Knollys, during their visit, em phasised the important part flying boats were intended to play in British air serviees. As technieal director of Shorts, Sir John Buchanan played a leading part in the production of the British postwar iiying boat, the Solent. Tliat boat recently underwent successful trials and B.O.A.C. have placed an initial order for 2(3 for use 011 Empire routes. Sir .John is travelling 011 the flying boat route from England to New Zeaiand to make himself faiuiliar witli al Ihe condilions encountered. Wliile luis in New Zeaiand lie will examino facilities and conditions to ascertayi wliether flying boats would require any special modilieations. Sir John is specially interested in the operaling conditions encountered by Tasman Empire Airways, as the sea erossing of 1312 miles > between Auek land and Sydney is regarded as oue of the severest tests for aireraft anyvvhere in Ihe world. In that regard it is in teresting to note that T.E.A. liave been operating the route now for more than six years, and orily on oue occasion was it necessary for a 'flying boat to alight outside the two terminals. Tlie boat alighied on the sea near Lord liowe Ishuul, aml after a slight adjustment was (dl'ected, it resumed . its flight to Sydney. The Tasman service is regarded as a practical demonstration of the safety factor givcn by flying boats. The two original boats 011 the service, the Aoteafoa and the Awarua, were used for recbnnaissance worlc during the war and, 011 special llights, cruised as fai hlield as ilonolulu. After the war T.E.A. acquired three more flying boats of an improved type which are opera war aireraft become available. ting a diiily two-way service until posiit is in teresting' to note that the fly ing boats used uii the Tasman service are ri/aled to the Sunderlands wliicli put u p sucli an outstanding perform anee during ihe war. U11 one occasion a Siuiderlund; was su/'cessfully put down 011 an airlieid, a- fact that prqmpted a leading aerouautieal jourual to eomnienl that il demonstrated that flying boats of 3b tons or more could be-land-ed 011 grass wilhout ditflculty or much damage. ■ ■ . • The lat'est 011 tlie' list of the 'Sundei' j land -'s successors, t Jio Solent, has iour Brisloi HiM) h.p. engiues and a eruising speeil of 230 miles un liour. Its range is 3O0U miles with an all-up weight of 33 tons. Jt would aceommodate 3G passeiigers under all conditions 011 the Tasinan erossing and provision could be made for 50 011 shorter runs. Tliere would be 110 need to leuvo passengcrs behind beeause more potrol had to be carried when tliere was bad weather ou Ihe route. The British Overseas Airways Corporation, which operates the longest routes of any .lidine in the world, has decided to retain flying boats on a nuin ber of routes anl already boats operated by the corpor.nii i have eompleted more than 20,000.000 miles in the air. The cliief project engineer of Shorts, Mr. W. Ilainbrook, is accompanying Sir John Buchanan on liis visit to New Zeaiand, and during their sliort tour of the Dominioii, ALr. G- Puddicombe, technieal representative of Shorts, who lias been 111 ihe counlrv for some montlis, and .U r. N. E. Higgfc, wlio has represent ed the British aviation industry in New •Zeaiand for ti number of years, will travel with ihem. I11 Wellington, Sir J0I111 proposes to call 011 Air Departineut and lie also intends to inspcct a number of New Zeaiand liarbours and lakes.