“THE CHOCOLATE PLANE”

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 972, 15 May 1930, Page 9

“THE CHOCOLATE PLANE”

COMMERCIAL MACHINE IN AUCKLAND ARRIVAL AT MANGERE Swooping down to the landing ground at the Mangere Airdrome late Yesterday afternoon, ‘The Chocolate plane” completed the journey from Wellington in 42 hours flying‘time. This, the first airplane to be used in New' Zealand for purely commercial purposes, is the property of the lirm of Cadbury, Fry and Hudson, Ltd. and was over on Tuesday. Captain M. C. McGregor made a perfect landing close to the hangar. Mr. George Sara, director of the firm, was the passenger. Leaving Wellington at 10 a.m. yesterday the plane reached Hawera at 12.15, leaving at 2 p.m. and completing the journey to Mangere shortly before 4.30 p.m. The plane was welcomed by a small group of officials, including Mr. Spencer Mason, chairman of the committee of tho Auckland Aero Club, Mr. L. W. Swan, secretary. Lieutenant D. M. Allan, chief instructor, and FlightLieutenant R. J. Copley, ground engineer, and Mr. G. Finn, president of the Auckland Manufacturers’ Association. Mr. Sara said he greatly appreciated their kindness in meeting the plane. "Trie idea of tho machine is an experiment,” he said, “but we believe that we can not only save time but can give better efficiency all round. Somebody must be the pioneer of commercial flying. The day of the buggy is gone. This is the fastest thing we know' of, but we hope to get something faster later on. The plane has been likened to many things, but u should be likened to a hawk, especially as it is to do some ‘hawking’ later on. New Zealand is 10 years behind the times, but we hope that commercial flying will soon jump ahead.” Mr. Spencer Mason, chairman of the committee of the Auckland Aero Club, congratulated Mr. Sara on the firm’s enterprise, and on obtaining the services of Captain McGregor, who was well-known and respected in air < ircles throughout the Dominion. Describing his trip, Mr. Sara said that after the plane left Wellington they encountered a strong wind, with n fair amount of bumping, but after that they had enjoyed a really good trip. ________