AWARUA’S AERIAL FUSED

Southland Times, Issue 24244, 30 September 1940, Page 4

AWARUA’S AERIAL FUSED

ELECTRICAL STORM OVER TASMAN

(United Press Association)

AUCKLAND, September 29.

A severe electrical storm was encountered by the Tasman-Empire airways flying-boat Awarua about 400 miles out from Sydney on her way to Auckland today and an electrical discharge fused the trailing aerial. The machine was not damaged or otherwise affected in any way and all that the passengers knew of the incident was a brief flash of light. The trailing aerial, which is lowered from the pilot’s compartment when the machine is in flight and wound in again before landing, was replaced by a spare carrier for such an eventuality. As the result of the prompt replacement radio communication was interrupted for only a few minutes, despite the storm which necessitated a deviation from the direct course. The Awarua made a fast trip with 14 passengers. She left Sydney at 6.12 a.m. and reached Auckland at 1.53 p.m., the point to point time being 7hr 34min. Captain O. Garden was in command. Passengers stated that the incident passed so quickly that they were not even aware the aerial had been fused. There was a bright flash of light but the machine continued in normal flight and the occurrence was quickly forgotten. The flying-boat’s passengers included Major-General Sir John Duigan, Chief of the General Staff, and Group-Captain H. W. L. Saunders, Chief of the Air Staff, who have been visiting Australia.