DOUGLAS DC6

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 69, Issue 49, 7 December 1948, Page 6

DOUGLAS DC6

AIRCRAFT ARRIVES AT WHENUAPAI (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Dec. 5. The first aircraft of its kind to visit New Zealand, a Douglas D.C. 6 of British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines, carrying 44 passengers, arrived at Whenuapai on Saturday afternoon. The aircraft, which for this flight is under charter to Tasman Empire Airways, Ltd., is one of four recently purchased from the Swedish airline by B.C.P.A. The D.C. 6, which is piloted by Captain John Bennett, chief pilot of 8.C.P.A., left this morning for Ohalcea, where is will remain for two or three days before returning to Sydney by way of Auckland. The aircraft were originally part of an order of 17 for use by a Swedish airline. When the Scandinavian airlines were amalgamated it was found that four of the orders were no longer needed. They were purchased for B.C.P.A. The aircraft have never been flown and are being delivered to Australia direct from the Douglas factory. The one which is visiting New Zealand was the first, to be delivered and was brought from the United States to Australia by Captain Bennett. The second is now in Australia and the third will probably pass through New Zealand on its way there. The D.C.6 is similar to the D.C.3, well known in New Zealand as the Skymaster, but it larger, faster and more up to date. The ground speed on crossing was about 305 miles an hour, said Captain Bennett, but they were throttled back all the time. The maximum speed of the aircraft was about 100 miles an hour faster than that of the Skymaster. The crossing was completed in 4 hours 20 minutes.