NEW MILITARY TRANSPORT’S 26,000 MILES TOUR. One of the new Handley Page Hastings military transports, the biggest and fastest built in Britain has been on a flight to Australia and New Zealand. This 335 m.p.h. plane went to Australia (via Malta, Egypt, Pakistan, India and the Dutch East Indies) in order that technical data may be gathered en route about its behaviour under intensive flying and tropical conditions. The aircraft’s capabilities were shown and those interested were able to inspect its large fuselage which accommodates seats for 50 troops or guns and lorries up to a weight of 7½ tons; and see that the Hastings multi-purpose function included the freighter, paratrooper, ambulance and glider-tug roles. These features emphasise the aircraft’s impressive potentialities as a civil freighter which can carry a 5-ton payload at 297 m.p.h. for 2000 miles—This picture shows: The plane taking off on its flight.

Grey River Argus, 2 June 1948, Page 7

NEW MILITARY TRANSPORT’S 26,000 MILES TOUR. One of the new Handley Page Hastings military transports, the biggest and fastest built in Britain has been on a flight to Australia and New Zealand. This 335 m.p.h. plane went to Australia (via Malta, E g y pt , Pakistan, India and the Dutch East Indies) in order that technical data may be gathered en route about its behaviour under intensive flying and tropical conditions. The aircraft’s capabilities were shown and those interested were able to inspect its large fuselage which accommodates seats for 50 troops or guns and lorries up to a weight of 7½ tons; and see that the Hastings multi-purpose function included the freighter, paratrooper, ambulance and glider-tug roles. These features emphasise the aircraft’s impressive potentialities as a civil freighter which can carry a 5-ton payload at 297 m.p.h. for 2000 miles—This picture shows: The plane taking off on its flight.