GIANT PLANE AT OHAKEA

Chronicle (Levin), 22 December 1947, Page 4

GIANT PLANE AT OHAKEA

TASMAN CROSSED IN RECORD TIME Fresli aviation instory was made on Saturday When ihe largest commercial tandplane ever to visit New Zealand uoucned down at Ohakea aerodrome af'tef a iiight of 4 hours 41 niinutes c'roni Mascot Aerodrome, Sydney, carry--mg a full quota of 42 passengers. it was the t^ahtas Empire Airlines' Constellation aireraft "(Jharles Ringsford dmitli" which made two flights-to NeAV ^ealalid over ihe week-end under speeial charter to Tasman Empire Airways to reiieve the heavy Christmas passeiiger demahds from Australia. The lifst return jou'rhey to Australia Was matle ih o hours 57 hxinutes ahd tlie second jourmsy to New Zealand was covered in, 4 liours 34 ininutes. These tihies convpare very favourably v\ith the seven hours taken by the iiyingooat service operated by Tasman Empire Airways * from Mechaftics ' Hay, Auckland, the Constellation having a graater pUyload. Tlie results of the Constellation 's tiights at the week-end are bouiid to i-evive tlie controversy of llyingboats versus landplanes for tlie Tasman run wluch reached a peak when it was announced , recently that Tasman Empire Airwavs (which. is part-owned by the New ZUaland Governnient) was negotiating a £1,000, UU0 * contract with Shorts for new fiyingboats for the Auckland-Kydney run. The Constellation was directed to Ohakea aerodrome when the Director oi' Civil Aviation, Wing-Commander . A. E. Gibson, ruled that it eould not land at Whenuapai which does not comply with internationai standards insofar a's aireraft of the Constellation cluss are coneeriied. The captain of tlie aireraft, however, stated when approached on the inatter that the funways at Whenuapai were ionger and stronger than at the Consteilation's home base, Mascot Aerodrome, Sydney. Inadequate runways was the oxcuse given the passengers for the diversion from Whenuapai. Special Customs arrangements were made ioi the landing at Ohakea, two oftieers journeying up from Wellington for the occasion. The passengers were quickly and efficiontly eleared tliroug'h ■ the Customs routine on both occasions, and were then taken to their various destinations throughout the country by the most convenient forms of transport a'vailable. When the engines of the Constellation were run up for tlie lirst return trip to Australia, starter trouble was experienved with tlie.port outer motor. As efforts by the ground stafl" to rectify tlie trouble were unavailing, the pilot, Captain 11. J. Ititchie, took tlie aireraft oi! on three engines, the runvvay required being only 800 to 1000 i'eet, which is remarkably good for an aireraft of tliat size. Once in the»air the feathcred engine was started aird tlie pldne laiided to take its passengers aboard. Tliere was a delay of oue iiour in the departuie of the aireraft fof* Australia. Only 25 passengers travelied on.tlie lirst return joufney, and the' craft travelied almost empty on the second return joutney ohly oue woman passenger, a Canadian who has been visiting relatives in N'ew Zealand, imiKing tho irip. No froiglit was earried on eitner return trip. The Constellation is one of tlie most popular of the Anierican landplanes in presont use. it is powered by four Wright Hupiex engines which generate 2200 li.p. each. Vv'itli a wing span of 123 feet the aireraft weiglis 102,000 pounds and carries 4800 galions of tuel. tn the lirst trip across the Tasman it used about 2000 galions. The size of the aireraft can be gauged by the cornparisons of its . wing-pau with the Lancaster' (1U2 feet), Liberator (11U feet), and D.C.4 (117 feet). It has a eruising speed at 20,000 • feet, its economical lieiglit for eruising, of 295 miles per Iiour. Tlie average speed of the Jiight across tlie Tasman on Waturday was 297 m.p.h., but in this it was assisted over the last 300 miles by a 30 niiles per Iiour tailwind. Tlie passengers reported it as being superlatively cpmfortable and exceJLlently appointed. Tliere Svas very little noise and the size of the uiacliine enabled bupipy air to .be met .without any uiidue aggrayatiqn-' ' of ' tlie ihgljL Tire fuseJage is • pressurised. Lli this maniier the iiir prcksurC ih tlie cabin can be adjusted to keexi the atmosphefe comfortable.

lnside the plane is upliolstered in yyster grey, deep louuge seats and adequate leg rooin niaking for the greatesfc of eonifort. Over each seat is a socket into which can be ])iugged eleetric razors for passengers who do not wish to leave tlieir seats. In the eeiiing are single bunks wluch stretch the wliole length of the fuselage. When ueeded these are let down, s'till allowuig enough headroom for tlie other passengers. Just beliind tlie pilot 7* conipartment is a Cocktail lounge with vvarm brown upholstering. Next to this is the kitehen whefe fresh meals are prepared from the pre-frozen food taken aboard and Which, when pfoperiy cooked in the eleetfie oVen, Would do justice to a Cohtinehtal clief. The rear of the passeagers' coinpartnieht is taken up with six wash basins, mirrors and other bathroom equipme'nt, all served by hot and cold funning water. Aniong the passengers who arfived in New Zealand by Ihe Constellation were six N'ew Zealand students attending tlie faculty of veterinary science at .Svdney University, returning home for the vaeations. They are Messrs. D. CravVsltaw (Auckland), who was at Massey College two years ago, P. E. Newling (Auckland), J. Melndoe (Dunedin), J. Moxliam (Invercargill), A. Pratt (Christchurch) and S. Guthrie (Eltliam)^ They expect to return to Sydney ih Febfuary or March. Bi'other, W. G. Frean, of Sydney, arrived on his Way to St. Gerard 's Churcli, Wellingtoh, Wliere he proposes to Uhdefta ko iliissionary work. Mr. W. II. Duncan, Australian inanager of Levin and Company, arfived on a two months ' holiday visit.