AIRCRAFT'S LAST TRIP

Chronicle (Levin), 4 November 1947, Page 7

AIRCRAFT'S LAST TRIP

Press Association)

Crossed Tasman Over 400 Times

(Per

AUCKLAND, Nov. 3. After travelling 1,230,000 air miles on the Tasman Empire Airways serviee between New Zealand and Australia, the flyinboat Aotearoa will begin its last return flight between Auckland and Bydney tomorrow morning. Flying regularly over the route for seven vears, t'he Aotearoa has spent 8500 iiours in the air to malce 442 Tasman crossings. Generally regarded as the veteran of Llie Tasman service, the Aotearoa has earned a reputation for unfailing reguIarity and reliabiiity. It is being witkdraun froiu the service only because the necessary. spare parts are no longer availablo. As far as is knovvu only one olher flying-boat of the .Empire elass reniains in the service. I'rior to its delivery to Tasman Empire Airvvavs in August 1030, the Aotearoa had fiown for only 21 hours in the Cnited Kingdom. The delivery tiight to the Dominion was conimenced by Captaiu J. W. Burgess, formerly operations manager of the compauy and now manager of the Britisli Uverseas Airways Corporation 's flying-boat service between Baltiniore aua Bermuda. In its subsequent service across Ihe Tasman the Aotearoa has carried more than (3000 passengers including many famous statesmen, military leaders and distinguished men and women froui overseas. On its last sclieduled flight the Aotearoa is commanded by Captain C. G. Griffiths, seuior captain of Tasman Empire Airways and veteran of the Tasman route. Holding the distinetion of liaving flown the Tasman >Sea more times than any other person, he will complete his 050th crossing tliis week. Binoe joining the compauy in 1910 Captain Griffiths has transported more than 10,000 passengers across the Tasman and his vast flying experionce gives liim the added achievement oi being a nieuiber.of a compauy of whai tiro described as British civil airJine "mileage millionaires ". Two othei Tasman Airways commanders, Captain lv. A. Brownjohn and Captain A. V. Jury, also have over a million air miles to their credit. Another two have eclipsed 750,000 miles and the romainder have all passed 500,000 miles. The Aotearoa 's iinal flight will be made wheu she is sent froiu the air base at Mechanics Bay to Hobsonville for breaking up. On tliis occasion the crew will include Alessrs G. B. Bolt, G. N. Welis and J. K. Coulson of the compauy 's techuieal stall. Air. Bolt, who is now chief engineer of Tasman Air ways, has been associated for 37 years with the flying of seaplanes and flying boats and both Mr. Wells and 11 r. Coulson, as mcmbers of the compauy 's original flight crew, wero con erned with the delivery of the lirst two air crat't for the Tasman service. The new Tasman class flyin pboat Auckland will replace the Aoteaioa on the service between Auckland and 8yd ney. Increased schedules involving cight return services and pro.-idin'g over 450 trans-Tasmau passages each week, will shortly be operated.