TRUNK AIR SERVICE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 293, 24 September 1935, Page 3

TRUNK AIR SERVICE

THREE AEROPLANES ORDERED.

THE GREAT PACIFIC COMPANY.

/Per Press Association). AUCKLAND, Sept. 23. An announcement that three 652 aeroplanes had been ordered ioi the trunk air service which may be operated between Auckland ana Dunedin by the Great Pacific - “ ways (New Zealand). Ltd.. was made bv Mr Trevor S- fibers (organiser of the company), at a sitting of the Transport Co-ordination Board. This news had been contained in a. cablegram from Mr it. iF'isk, of Australia, a director of the company, who has been investigating airways in the United States and Great Britain in the last torn months. , Mr Withers stated that provided prompt delivery of the aeroplanes could be obtained, the company should be ready to commence operations about next June or July. It was left for the Board to fix the provisional date by which the company should commence operations. The Avro 652, which is designed and constructed, at Manchester, is a low wing monoplane with two Armstrong-Siddelfey Cheetah 290 hoisepower engines, and a retractable undercarriage It has a cruising speed of 165 miles an hour, and a top speed or 195 miles an hour. The cost landed in New Zealand fully equipped will be about £IO,OOO each. The normal internal arrangement is for six passengers, with separate baggage accommodation. The cabin is sufficiently large to accommodate the six passengers in luxurious comfort, and is furnished with roomy armchair seats. The crew of two is provided with a separate cabin with full dual control. This cockpit, which is totally enclosed, is forward of the leading edge of the wing. Modern Design. “This machine is the very latest thing in aircraft, and was only designed this year,” . said Mr Withers, “it has proved remarkably successful. The first two machines have been ordered by linpeiral Airways. So impressive were , they that 174 of them have been ordered by tho Royal Air Force for bombing and reconnaissance work. The fact that the aeroplanes used in the New Zealand trunk service will be readily convertible for defence purposes will be of great value to the Dominion. My company will maintain not only a ileet of last aircraft, but also a staff of highly-trained pilots, ground engineers, and tflrcraftsmen. All oi this organisation will be immediately available in the event of war.”

The operation of the trunk service, Mr Withers added, would be contingent upon the granting of a Government subsidy, either in the form of a mail contract or otherwise. Now that the choice of aircraft had been made, it would shortly be possible to prepare apd submit subsidy proposals to the Government. These would provide for precedence being given to the carriage of first-class mails, and would call for a very much lower subsidy a mile than that paid in many other countries. “My directors and 1 are quite confident,” said Mr Withers, “that these subsidy proposals will receive early and favourable consideration. There is general and widespread recognition throughout the Dominion as to the value of a trunk air service, and from the postal and defensive viewpoints alone such a service obviously justifies the granting of a. subsidy.” As soon as the trunk service was established, Great Pacific Airways would inaugurate a fast AucklandRotorua, service. It was also intended later to operate fast direct services between Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin.