ROYAL VISIT AIR ARRANGEMENTS IN N.Z.

Grey River Argus, 15 April 1948, Page 4

ROYAL VISIT AIR ARRANGEMENTS IN N.Z.

AUCKLAND, April 14,

After a tour of a numbex' of New Zealand aerodromes, some of which are likely to be included in the itinerary of the Royal aircraft during next year’s visit by the King and Queen and Princess Margaret, a Viking plane of the King’s flight •returned to Whenuapai. She will leave to-morrow fox- Canberra by way of Norfolk Island, and eithex* Brisbane oxThe captain of the King’s flight, Ail- Commodore E. H. Fielden, said that during his 'brief New Zealand visit he had conferred with the Governor-General, the Prime Ministex' and officers of the Royal New Zealand Aix" Force. Everything had been most satisfactory and all necessary arrangements had been made as fax’ as was possible at this stage. Aerodromes at which landings might be undertaken next year were examined, and he understood all would be satisfactory fox’ use by aircraft by the time the Royal visit occurred. Adequate navigational aids were available, and from his point cf view the visit had been completely successful.

In Australia the procedure fox’ the present visit by the Viking would probably be the same as that followed in New Zealand, the Air Commodore added. He would see Gov-ernor-Generall McKell, confex- with the Royal Australian Aix’ Force, and generally make preliminary arrangements fox’ next year’s visit. The Viking would then return to Britain by way of the Middle East.

He added, in I'eply to a question, that there was no possibility of any of the Ro.val visitors coming to New Zealand by air. He did not yet know, how many of the four Vikings in the King’s flight would be used for the coming trip, but those required would carry only their crews to New Zealand. Their route from Britain had yet been decided.