CITY AIR PORT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 196, 19 August 1940, Page 8

CITY AIR PORT.

RECORD CREATED.

FLYING BOATS' VISITS.

' The importance of Auckland as an air base was emphasised yesterday, when two flying boats left for America and Australia respectively, and one arrived from Sydney. This constituted a port record, but "those who have associated themselves with flying progress in recent years are of the opinion that flying boats will arrive and leave daily when the war is over and more attention can be given to the development of overseas services.

A record trip across the Tasman was made by the flying boat Aotearoa yesterday, "a Press Association telegram from "Sydney saying that the time was 8 hours* 9 minutes. The message added that the flying boat arrived at 1 p.m, Sydney time, in overcast and showery weather, the time taken constituting a record for the Tasman crossing.

The Aotearoa and Am-arua, of the Tasman Empire Airways' service, made five trips between Auckland and Sydney in four days. 44 passengers being trans]K>rted across the Tasman in that period. The Awarua, with about 4001b of mail, including 2001b brought to Auckland by the California Clipper from San Francisco and intermediate ports, left for Sydney on Saturday morning! Captain J. W. Burgess was in command, and the following passengers were carried: Mrs. D. Pooley, Miss F. M. Riehards, Messrs. M. V. Bates, K. Palmer, W. J. Percival and W. R. Kerr. Mrs. Pooley is in her eightieth year, and it the oldest woman to fly the Tasman. Messrs. Percival and Palmer are Australian journalists completing an ait trip between Sydney and San Francisco. A Special Trip. With Captain Oscar Garden in.command, the Aotearoa made a special trip to Sydney yesterday, taking off at C a.m. The following win! experienced helped towards the making of the record reported from Sydney. The Aotearoa had on board ten American journalists who are making a circuit of the Pacific by air, the Tasman flight being specially arranged and not included in the regulaV schedule of the company. These passengers arrived in Auckland by the California Clipper last Friday, and they will return to America by way of the Far East and the Central Pacific Clipper route. Accompanying them on the Tasman crossing was Mr. L. G. Wigmore. a representative of the Australian Government, who came to Auckland te meet the party. When'the Aotearoa arrived in Sydner the visiting journalists were warmly welcomed by the Director-General of Information, Sir Keith Murdoch, stater a Press Association message. They wet? also met by representatives of the Federal and State Governments and representative Australian journalists. Thr itinerary of their five days' stay in thr Commonwealth includes "a visit of inspection to the Newcastle steelworks. Firat Hop Faat. Pan-American Airways' CaKfornii Clipper, commanded by Captain W. A. Cluthe, left Auckland "at 7.30 ajn. yesterday on her return flight to San Francisco. Fast time, was made to Noumea, the first "hop" of the long journey home, a distance of 1122 miles. Assisted by- a steady easterly wind, the Clipper arrived at Noumea at 234 p.m. New Zealand time. Among the passengers carried by the Clipper wae Mr. Harold Getty, New Zealand representative of Pan-American Airways (travelling as far as Xoumea), Mr."w. L Vat Dusen, public relations officer of tht company, and Mr! Ward Moorhousc columnist and travel writer of the Tfe* York Times," who was a member-of dnparty of American journalists wb* arrived by the Clipper on Friday. The Awarua returned to Auckland from Sydney yesterday. Tbe easterl; wind which helped the Aotearoa on tl» eroding to Sydney, retarded the Awarus which did not berth at Mechanics , Bav until 3.40 p.m. There were eight pas sengers: Misses L'-H. Longe, M. Brut* M. E. Budd, J. E. Bonce, Dr. and Mr*. C. E. A. Ooldicutt, and Messrs. T. £ Matthews, and R. D. Brown. For tk* first time two aircraft passed each other on the Tasman - crossing. Tbe Aotearot and Awarua passed in mid-Tasrmu: about 40 miles separating them. Neither was seen by the other, bat the eon manders were able to converse bt medium of the radio. ; " xv^U 11 th * * xtr * T °y*B*« m«d* aero* the Tasman last week by the Tasmu Empire Airways' flying-boate, the Government Meteorological Office had to bear the burden of preparing freqneal forecasts. The operators and technician* at the Musick Memorial radio siaiior had also to take their share of the extra work. Flight crews.were required fo» sustained periods of duty, A record was made by Flight-Lieutenant.K. A. Brown john, who made four trips across tt» Tasman in four days as second officer.