SPECIAL AIRCRAFT

Opotiki News, Volume X, Issue 1050, 28 November 1947, Page 2

SPECIAL AIRCRAFT

FARMING' COMMISSION OVER OPOTIKI Those who saw a large aeroplane over Opotiki on Sunday were wondering what a passenger plane was doing flying about on this day of the week. The plane came from Wellington with personnel of the Iloyal Commission into the shccpfarming industry in New Zealand who had a preview of some of the country which will be the subject of their inquiry. The plane visited Whakatanc, Opotiki and Gisborne and returned south the same day. An Eleetra aircraft of National Airways, was chartered for the day by the commission, the machine taking 10 passengers. Piloted by Mr. M. C. McLeod, the aircraft took-eff from Palmerston North at

8 a.m.. landing shortly afterwards at Paraparaiunu. Members of the commission boarded the aircraft, which then proceeded north across Manawatii to Lake Taulo and then across to Whakatanc, Opotiki, East C'a.pc and down tlie East Coast to Gisborne, landing at Dart-on Field at 12.16 p.m, The route was not direct and a large area of country was viewed by the .passengers portions of particular interest being circled by the machine. The visibility remained excellent throughout the day. The machine took off early in ; the afternoon for Wellington. The i machine travelled by an inland route, coming out to the coast again at Cape Palliscr and landing at Paraparaiunu at 1 p.m, after covering about 60U miles.