NEW PLANE'S TRIAL FLIGHT

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 131, 19 June 1937, Page 7

NEW PLANE'S TRIAL FLIGHT

— Press Assooiation.)

Trip from Wellington to Auckland EFFORTLESS CRUISE

(By Telegraph-

AUCKLAND, Last Night. . Circling easily over the city, Union Airways' monoplane Kuaka attraeted the attention of hnndreds of Anck* landers at the conclusion of her first flight from Wellington this afternoon. The fiying timo for the distance of about 350 miles was two hours 16 minutes, althougk the journey was spread over four hours, stops being made at Palmerston North and New Plymouth. Nine passengers were carried. The company's ohief pilot, Mr. B. A- Blythe, was in. command and with him as co-pilot was Mr. C; M. Duthie. The high altitude of the fiying made no difference to the comfort of the passengers in the eleetrically-heated cabin. Ice pictures formed on the ontside of the windows, but the interior of the maehino was kept comfortably warm and at (he saine time fresh, by means of a special ventilating system. At 10,000 feet, betwecn Palmerston North and New Plymouth, the machine flew above a layer of heavy cloud, its shadow on the wliite vapour keeping pace. Visibility was exceptionally good and the passengers could see clea'rly the main divide of the South Island, the line of snowcapped peaks being visible for hundreds of miles. Crowds had gathered to welcomo the j machine at Bell Block aerodrome, New Plymouth. As a formality the motors i wero checked before taking off for I Auckland and the starter fuse replaced. ! A straight course was set to Mangere, I the Loekheed being flown over the sea P o j for some distance, making; light of the i milas and cruising in. an elfortless style. At 7000 fqet airspeed indicators showed nearly 200 miles an. hour on the Iatter part of the flight. Similar spoeds will probably be ' maintained to-morrow morning, when the Kuaka will fly nonstop to Wellington with a party of guests of th-e company. The return to Mangere will take place ,in the afternoon, the AucManders fiying betwecn 600 and 700 miles in about five hours. • - ! n "■ ■ ' / ■ ^