ULM ARRIVES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 723, 26 December 1933, Page 6

ULM ARRIVES

VISIT TO ROTORUA "FAITH IN AUSTRALIA" LANDS AT TE NGAE FLIGHT FROM CHRISTCHURCH Piloted by Flight-Lieutenant C. T. P. Ulm, the monoplane, . "Faith in Australia," which was recently flown across the Tasman, landed on the property of Mr. R. C. Smith, at Te Ngae on Saturday afternoon. Accompanying Mr. Ulm were Mr. G. U. Allen (co-pilot and radio operator), Mr. R. T. Bolton (engineer), Mrs. Ulm, Miss K. Rogers, Mr. C. Smythe (business manager) and Mr. B. Shiels (representative of the Vacuum -Oil Company) . Shortly after 10 a.m. on Saturday the big plane took off at Christchurch for a non-stop flight for Rotorua and a good trip was experienced up the coast, although strong head winds at times made slight deviations from a direct course advisable. During the trip the crew and passengers enjoyed a light lunch and shortly after 2 p.m. Rotorua could be seen in the distance. The first glimpse of the plane secured from Rotorua was at about 2.15, when it could be seen approaching from the direction of Atiamuri heading direct for the town. After circling over the borough, the plane was headed across the lake in the direction of the landing ground, where a small assemblage was waiting to see the famous machine and its crew land. Assisted by ground smoke signals indicating wind currents, the pilot carefully inspected the field before landing and finally brought the monoplane down in a fine three-point landing against a westerly wind. As the machine landed the attendance steadily increased and watched with interest the unloading of luggage and ejuipment in preparation for passenger flights, several of which were made during the afternoon. Design of Plane The "Faith in Australia" is a triple engined Avro of Fokker design, built in England. ' Equipped with three Wright- Whirlwind engines, each with a normal power of 240 horsepower, the monoplane has a cruising speed of 105 miles an hour, but on several occasions has attained a speed of 130 miles an hour. The petrol is carried in 10 tanks in the wings (each holding 60 gallons) two tanks in the fuselage holding 260 gallons each and another under the pilot's cockpit containing 110 gallons. The range of the machine is 3500 miles. The wing span is 75ft 2in and the overall length 46ft 6in. A f eature of the monoplane's equipment is the complete set of navigating instruments, which are believed to be the most comprehensive carried by anp plane in the southern hemisphere. The cabin of the machine is provided with 13 single chair seats for passenger carrying and is of sufficient height for a person of average height to freely move about. During the week-end, the plane made a number of passenger flights and these will be continued until its departure for Tauranga (probably calling at Athenree) to-morrow evening.