LYING READY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 179, 1 August 1939, Page 9

LYING READY.

GIANT CLIPPER.

FLIGHT TO AUCKLAND.

PERMISSION NOW AWAITED

On a different route from that followed by the ill-fated Sikorsky Clipper in 1037, the now Boeing flying-boats of Tan-American Airways are expected to start preliminary flights from San Francisco to New Zealand in the near future. Advice to this effect has been received from his principals in the United States by Mr. Harold Gatty, special representative of the company in New Zealand.

Specially-built for the service, the flying-boat anil her crew are standing by in San Francisco awaiting formal appro\al from the American Government before beginning flight* across the South Pacific. Mr. Gatty has announced that a fortnightly service is contemplated. The distance to be covered is 79.">2 miles and the schedule provides for the journey to occupy 49 flying hours.

When the preliminary flights begin, the Hying boat will come to Auckland by way of Loe Angeles, Honolulu, Canton Island and Noumea, New Caledonia. The now and longer route, which eliminates Pago Pago (American Samoa) in favour of Noumea, has been made possible by the range of the new Boeings, which arc capable of carrying up to 30 passengers, together with "their luggage and two and a half tons of mail and freight, over the longest stages of the new trans-ocean route.

Advice received by Mr. Gatty indicates that all the Pacific bnsea are ready for use. Engineering work at Canton Island and Noumea has boon completed and meteorological and radio facilities and accommodation for crews and passengers have been provided. The company, said Mr. Oatty, was now looking forward to the completion of the chain of tfir transport to Australia by the inauguration of the trans-Tasman service.

Awaiting Authority. A Press Association cable message received to-day from New York states that the Pan-American Company has announced that it wae applying to-day to the Civil Aeronautics Authority for permission to begin fortnightly flights with one of its Boeing four-motored flying boats. The American Government has been advised that Pan-Amerioan are ready to start the fights immediately the application for authority is gTanted.

Listing the new route the company wishes to follow, statee the cable, PanAmerican Airways have announced that there will be a full day's layover at Honolulu and overnight stops at Canton Island and Noumea. The trip will require four days, actual flying time 49 hours. At the outset, only outwardbound flights will stop at Los Angeles.

_Mr. Gatty commented, when making his announcement, that the facilities being provided by the New Zealand Government at the Musick Memorial Radio Centre for the benefit of all air services would be of immense value to Pan-American Airways. These facilities would be used by the Hoeing Clippers. It was not anticipated, he added! tint any would be carried on the initial flight, hut on the second representatives of the United States Govern ment and of Pan-American Airwavs would probably make the flight.

For some months the Pan-American company has been carrying on work at its Pacific bases. A colony has been established at Canton following the agreement between the British and American Governments, and 75 men are now quartered there. The base has been built under the supervision of Mr. Frank McKenzie, the engineer who constructed the company's terminal at Auckland. The plant includes an hotel, power supply, radio station and meteorological equipment. Intensive blasting work has been conducted to clear the coral heads from the runaway selected.

Base at Noumea. The base in New Caledonia is on the island of Nsu, formerly a penal settlement. Work there has been under the direction of Mr. A. L. Lewis, formerly airport manager at Auckland. At Noumea, however, the harbour is well suited to the operation of marine aircraft and the work necessary to prepare the base has not presented the difficulties of that at Canton Island. In New Zealand the company has been no less active. Moorings for use in an emergency have been retained at Russell, where radio facilities have also been provided. At Auckland the gear stowed since the tragic crash of the Samoan Clipper has been overhauled and set iti position, and heavier moorings have been provided to accommodate the Boeings.

Staffing arrangements are not completed, but the key men arrived some time ago and have proceeded steadily with arrangements. Three New Zeiilanders are now working at the base. It is planned to employ ten more New Zealanders as general employees before the service is begun.