Flying-boat Ararangi Makes First Operational Flight

Chronicle (Levin), 15 November 1949, Page 5

Flying-boat Ararangi Makes First Operational Flight

AUCKLAND, Nov. 14. To the sfrfiins of "Riile Britainnia," the flying-bbat Ar arangi, . the first of four Solents built; in Britaiti for Tasman Empire Airways, took off for Sydney at 8 o'eloek this mdfning on the first operational ffigiiL The., flags of New Zealand, Australia, ahd Britain formed the backgrouhd to a qelourful cerehiOny after which the MiiiiStef of Civil Aviation^ (Mf Jortfis) pushed.the button releasing the Ararangi. _ T'he gathering of 100 also included the Mayor of Auckland (Mr Alliim), tli6 ch "pTTi q,ti of tliQ Harbour Bb&rd (Mr MeCallum), tke High Commissioher for AnStralia (Mf A. R. Gutler, V.C.), Mr A. W. Bnellittg, represeliting the High Commissioner for the United Kihgaom, hhd the chairlhan of directors of Tasman AirWays Ltd., (Sir Leohard Isitt). The spehkers wished tke cqihpany Well htta many years of suCCfi'sgful bpr eration. . . Mr McCailum said the harbour . board mnst plan. ahead with d-aiihan Airways. Mf Jones Said that ih the hihfe years to 1948 the compahy had made a profit of £§91,000, of whi.Ch £00,600 was paid in dividends to the Qwners — -the Governments of New Zealand, AttS tralia and Britain. .The sum.* "of £42,680 was tfahsferrfed tb the reserve, and £189,000 paid in „ taxation. ThiS year, dWiftg tb prblbnged ffqnhd* ing 6f its airCrdft, the cbmpany had lost £101,692. Mr Jones ahhounced that tb» fdeilities at Rose Bay, Sydney, would soon be equal to the excellent standard in Auckland, He also |>aid a Lrifehte to the staff operating the Auckland-Sydney service. Commander A. Y. Jury was in comtnand of the Ar arangi.