RECORD FLIGHT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20028, 29 August 1939, Page 11

RECORD FLIGHT

HOP OVER TASMAN ARRIVAL. OF AOTEAROA 12 DAYS FROM ENGLAND WELCOME AT AUCKLAND THOUSANDS GREET CRAFT (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. Completing her 12 days’ delivery flight from Southampton, the Tasman Empire Airways flying-boat Aotearoa alighted on Auckland harbour just after 2.30 o'clock yesterday afternoon, having .made the crossing from Sydney with the aid of a following wind in approximately seven hours, 20 minutes. Thus she easily beat the previous record of nine and a quarter hours put up by the Centaurus in December, 1937.

After making two • circuits of the inner harbour and swooping low over Mechanics’ Bay base in salute, the Aotearoa alighted gracefully just outside the eastern breakwater and taxied into the basin. Within a quarter of an hour she was berthed between a special pontoon, the whole operation having been carried out with routine ease.

Owing 'to wet weather and her early arrival the crowds on the waterfront were not so large as on former occasions, but Captain J. W. Burgess and his ship’s company were enthusiastically cheered when they stepped ashore. An informal reception was held in the base building, the Government, the Harbour Board, City Council, Union Airways and Pan-American Airways being represented. Ahead of Srchcdulc The Aotearoa’s arrival had been forecast the night before for about 3.30 p.m.. but after if had become known she was flying ahead of schedule, crowds began to gather around Mechanics’ Bay, the base of Tasman Empire Airways, and on Campbell's Point early in the afternoon in spite of the rain which was falling intermittently. By 2 o'clock several thousand people had assembled and many more were sitting tn cars along Waterfront road'. The prospects of a good view of the flying boat's arrival were not bright until a little after 2 o’clock, when the sky in the west and south began to lighten and diluted sunshine gleamed fitfully on the harbour waters. The wind-sock on the end of the breakwater indicated a gentle westerly breeze. Inside the base building was a large official party and a score or more of other guests. When the rain ceased a battery of motion-picture cameras was set up on the flat roof from which the whole expanse of the harbour could be seen. Press photographers also found the roof a good vantage point. Sudden Appearance

Just before the half hour, the Aotearoa made her sudden appearance over North Head, emerging from the mist fringing a big rainstorm which covered Hauraki Gulf. In a few moments she was heading diagonally toward King's Wharf and the subdued hum of her engines could be distinctly heard.

Banking at an angle which enabled the red paint on the upper surface of her wings to be seen, she turned in a comparatively narrow arc, descending as she did so and roared past the rear of the ' base buildings at a height that seemed little more than 150 ft. From this’ salute, the great sea bird rose again and made a second and wider circuit passing over Albert Park and Parnell.

Reappearing, she came down on a long slant toward a large patch of water off Point Resolution which was being patrolled by the two base tenders and the Harbour Board's launch. Ferro. Lower she came, skimming along with her shadow spreading beneath he r and touched the water in the fairway at a comfortable distance from the end of the mole. Welter of Foam As her hull sank deeper, she quickly lost way in the welter of foam ’and, with slowly turning propellers, taxied into the basin, while spouts of water rose on either side of her silver hull. The two launches hurried in after her at full speed. The mooring hatch in the nose was quickly opened and ' the head and shoulders of a man appeared. The staff hatch was pushed up between the wings and another member of the crew climbed out to fasten the blue New Zealand civil aviation flag to its top. To experts as well as the laymen, the facility with which the flyingboat was berthed tail-first in a Braby pontoon was remarkable. When she 'had turned she stopped precisely in a position alongside the buoy.

Two heavy lines attached to the electric capstans were taken out to her in punts, one being run through a block on the buoy and the other fixed to ihe stern. Then slowly, the massive boat was warped into the horseshoe of the pontoon, half a dozen air force ratings from Ilobsonvillc easing her into .her final position with rubber-ended poles. Applause and Cheers

Less than 15 minutes after his craft had alighted, Ihe now familiar figure of Captain Burgess emerged through the opened door and the whole of the ship’s company, together with four aircraft engineers who were passengers, marched up the staging to an accompaniment of applause and cheers. They were met by the port health .officer, Dr. Watson, and conducted to the examination room where the formalities were completed in a minute or two. The official reception was brief. There wpre no speeches. Captain Burgess and 1 his first officer. Mr. W. J. Craig, were welcomed with handshakes’ by the chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board, Mr. W. B. Barlow, and the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, Mr.’ C. A. Furlong, of the Department of Internal' Affairs, representing the Prime Minister andi the High Comrrfssioner for the United Kingdom, Sir Harry Batterbee, the Controller of Civil Aviation, Group-Captain T. M. Wilke-. Mr. J. N. Greenland and Mr. C. S. White, representing Union Airways, and Mr. Harold Gatty, New Zealand representative of PanAmerican Airways.

Mr. Craig was 'also greeted by his father, who 'had come to Auckland from the country ito meet him. Immediately after the reception, Captain Burgess had a happy meet-

ing wiith his wife and little son. His baby daughter, whom lie had not seen, was deemed too young to bo present.

A lane had to be cleared by the police through the crowd of several hundred cheering people before Captain and Mrs. Burgess could reach the car which carried them home. lir addition to her commander and crew, the Aotearoa carried five engineers. The flying-boat's personnel, all of whom will remain in New Zealand, was as follows: Captain .1. W. Burgess, commander; Mr. W. J. Craig, first officer; Mr. G. W. Cussans, senior radio officer; Mr. R. A. Phillips, (light steward; Mr. R. S. Peek, engineer; IMr. E. R. Macn.amara, engineer; Mr. S. J. Bradshaw, instrument engineer; Mr. B. Knee, chief engine inspector; Mr, J. Brown Smith-Sperry, engineer. In addition to Captain Burgess,

Messrs. Craig,- Peek -and . Macnamara are New Zealanders.

Many items of luggage were unloaded from the ,flying-boat before she was transferred to .her over-night moorings., These did not. escape the usual Customs 1 formalities.