Bad Weather But Plane Still Took Off

Taupo Times, Volume XIV, Issue 54, 13 July 1965, Page 4

Bad Weather But Plane Still

Took Off

Friday proved to be one of the worst days for flying since Taupo's new airport was opened for scheduled airline services more than two weeks ago. In spite of this, the Spanz Viewmaster was able to land and uplift eight passengers for the south. The departure time was 55 minutes behind schedule, however, owing to a hold-up of the aircraft at Rotorua airport. During inost of the time passengers were waiting at Taupo airport, Mount Tauhara was eompletely out of sight and the tops of hills surrounding Taupo were cloud-covered. In other parts the rain clouds were thin at times, allowing the pilot to approach the airport where the visibility was good. A normal landing was made and, after taking off to resume the flight south, the aircraft was visible to a considerable height before turning on course for Masterton. ROADS WORSE While air passengers south from Taupo were slightly inconvenienced by the 55 minute delay due to the hold-up at Rotorua airport, passengers travelling in both directions between Taupo and Wellington by

road transport were taken on a detour through Tokaanu and Ohakune which added three hours to the eight hour trip. This was due to the closure of the Desert and National Park roads at about mid-day, made impassable by snowfall. Before the roads were closed, motorists had a rough passage and many have to thank the MoW and Tongariro Power Development men and machines for getting them out of trouble on the Desert Road south of Turangi. The Army also helped many people out, including men on the Maowhango Gorge power development investigation job who were snowed in. In a westerly direction, MoW machines went in to bring out other men from the WhakapapaNui investigation job, and got them all out by 5 p.m. Experienced drivers on the Desert Road route said conditions were worse than they had ever encountered before. Even after the Desert Road, and the National Park Road, was opened again, the going proved very difficult, some of the motorists who went through these routes said they would never again take them on in sueh conditions. Friday was a bad day for road transport, but in spite of the generally bad weather conditions, Spanz was able to keep schedule on its north-bound flight. There was criticism of driving by private motorists on snow and slush-covered Taupo-Napier highway. Careful drivers reported some hair-raising overtaking by drivers "in a hurry." On the Desert Road, many dnivefis wefie, reported to have pressed on regardless of the notices that the road was closed.