U.S. BUSINESS PLANE VISITS NEW ZEALAND ON WORLD TOUR

Grey River Argus, 2 April 1948, Page 5

U.S. BUSINESS PLANE VISITS NEW ZEALAND ON WORLD TOUR

AUCKLAND, April 1. At 10.3 a.m. there arrived at Whenuapai airfield the American “Atlas Sky Merchant,” cy? the “Flying Showroom,” plane from Sydney. The leader of the businessmen, who are on the plane, is Mr F. H. Bedford, president of the Atlas Supply Company and a director of the Standard Oil Company, who claims that “this is the first tim P that a group such as ours has made such an extensive air trip to obtain information, meet businessmen, and get to understand their point of Vifew.” The Skymaster carries the newest type of radio telephone, by which the businessmen intend to carry on conversations with prominent New Zealanders while they are crossing the Tasman. Commanding the aircraft is Colonel E. E. Aldrin, who served in New Zealand during the war with the United States Army Air Forces.

Nearing the Dominion before midday the plane phoned Auckland. It is said this was the first time two-way air-to-ground radio telephone conversations have been conducted with. New Zealand. The Sky Merchant is one of the very few planes in the world which has the necessary equipment. The voice from the plane was that of Mr D. F. Davies, public relations officer, who spoke to the editor of the Auckland Star. His voice was picked up. in Wellington and., relayed by land-line to Auckland. Mr Davies said: ‘‘We are going to take the plane down to Wellington and will return to Auckland.”

The party regretted that they would not be long in New Zealand, but were on a world tour. Th P plane at the time was about 250 miles from New Zealand, travelling at 200 miles per hour. A message of greeting was transmitted from the plane to the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser. Mr Davies stated on arrival at Whenupai at 10.30 that the reception from Auckland was excellent.