Flying-boat Converted For Fiji Run

Chronicle (Levin), 11 January 1949, Page 3

Flying-boat Converted For Fiji Run

AUCKLAND, Jan. 10: 1 The biggest aircraft coriversioii job attempted in New Zealand and probably iii the Southern Hemisphere, is under way at Hobsonville. Since Septeinber, engineers and other skiiled workers at the National Airways Corporation's base, have been partiy rebuilding a former R.N.Z.A.F. Short Sunderland flying-boat for use on tlio passenger run between' Auckland and j Suva. Thousands of nian hours liavu j been sijent on prevision work demand- j ing the highest degree of engineering ; skill and witliin about six weeks the tffansformed aircraft is expeeted to take t the water. The flying-boat Takitimu is oue of four Sunderlands delivered to the Air Force during the war. • It was witlidrawn from service in 191,1 after 500 hours of flving and until a year ago it. had been lying on the concrete tarmac at Hobsonville. It was theu shifted inlo the "corporation's hangar to enable conversion work to begin but sliortages of materials made progress slow and it was not until Septeinber that work went into t'ull swing. About 70 men have sinee been eitgaged in a variety of ways on the coinplex job. The flying-boat was designed as a troop transport and now lier interior is being converted to takc comfortable seats in place of the c riginal lotig benches. Engineers belieye that uo aircraft -conversion job of comparable size has ever been carried out in the Southern Hemisphere. When the work is fluislied the rejuvenated Takitimu will replace the corporation's flying-boat Mataatua on the Fiji run and the Mataatua will be used as a stand-bv macliine. The Takitimu, like the Mataatua, will carry 26 passengers and a crew of nine.