AOTEAROA BACK AT AUCKLAND

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 186, 3 May 1940, Page 8

AOTEAROA BACK AT AUCKLAND

End Of First Tasman

Air Voyage

WOMAN PASSENGER INTERVIEWED

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, May 1.

Making her second fastest crossing of the Tasman in 7 hours 59 minutes, the flying-boat Aotearoa returned from Sydney this afternoon to complete the -first round trip in the Tasman Empire Airways commercial service between New Zealand and Australia.

She carried five passengers, about 45,000 letters, including 10,000 from Britain, and about 1671 b. of freight, including a number of cinematograph films.

Before dawn Captain Burgess, his officers aud crew, the same who took the flying-boat from Auckland to Sydney, and the passengers embarked at the Rose Bay base and were farewelled by a large number of officials and friends.

The flying-boat circled over Sydney and headed toward New Zealand. It was blind flying for the first two hours, and then, shortly after sunrise, the flying-boat again encountered bad weather. Heavy rain and hail was met, and later at an altitude of 9000 feet there was a snowstorm. Precautions were taken against ice formation, and at one stage it was necessary to wind in the aerial for a time, because of the electrical storm. At no time, however, did conditions cause any perturbation either to the crew or the passengers.

For five and a half hours the flyingboat maintained an altitude of 8000 feet, meeting intermittent cloud at first, but flying in the sunshine above the clouds for most of the last 500 miles. Conditions improved rapidly nearing the New Zealand coast, and the flyingboat reached Auckland in perfect weather at 1.38 p.m. “It was a wonderful experience,” said the only woman passenger, Miss G. McDonald, Takapuna, after the flying-boat reached Auckland. “I have done a lot of flying in Australia, but nothing so comfortable as this. The lights of Sydney, as we circled over it this morning, were one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. Except for one period it was smooth travelling all the way, and everything possible was done for our comfort.”

Miss McDonald said she was the first passenger to book for the SydneyAuckland service. She reserved her seat some months ago before leaving for a holiday in Australia. The other passengers were Mr. R. 11. Kemp, a New Zealander, returning after two years in Australia, and three journalists, Messrs. W. J. Percival (Sydney), K. Palmer (Melbourne) and H. O. Browne (Auckland). The flying-boat’s average speed for the crossing was 146 knots. Captain Burgess said the whole trip had gone very well It was a most satisfactory inauguration for the service.

A Press Association cablegram from Sydney states that among the letters is one of greeting from the Lord Mayor of Sydney to the mayor of Auckland.

MESSAGE FROM HOME GOVERNMENT

Inauguration Welcomed

A message welcoming the inauguration of the transtasman air service has been received by the New Zealand Government from the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs. The message, a copy of which was supplied to the Press yesterday by the Prime Minister, Mr. Frazer, is as follows:— “His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom are glad to take the opportunity of the first regular flight across the Tasman Sea to wish Tasman Empire Airways success and good fortune. The inauguration of the transtasman service affords another indication of the successful result which can be achieved by co-operation between the Governments of the British Commonwealth. His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom welcome the establishment of this final link in the air service between the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.” The New Zealand Government has replied to the message as follows: — “His Majesty’s Government in New Zealand appreciate your cordial message on the commencement of the transtasman service. The speediei communication and travel between New Zealand and Australia and the linking of the United Kingdom and our Dominions by the air service will, it is hoped, more firmly bind our peoples and reinforce all useful cooperative enterprises for the benefit of the British Commonwealth.”