AO-TEA-ROA AT AUCKLAND

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22801, 29 August 1939, Page 10

AO-TEA-ROA AT AUCKLAND

Twelve Days From Southampton

RECORD TASMAN CROSSING

Welcome by Large Crowd (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, August 28. Completing the 12 days’ delivery flight from Southampton, the Tasman Empire Airways’ flying-boat Ao-tea-roa alighted on Auckland harbour just after 2.30 o’clock this afternoon. It made the crossing from Sydney with a following wind in approximately seven hours 20 minutes, easily beating the previous record of nine hours and 15 minutes put up by the Centaurus in December, 1937.

After making two circuits of the inner harbour and swooping low over the Mechanics Bay base in salute, the Ao-tea-roa alighted gracefully just outside the eastern breakwater, and taxied into the basin. Within a quarter of an hour it was berthed in the special pontoon, the whole operation having been carried out with routine ease. Because of the wet weather and early arrival, the crowds on the waterfront were not so large as on former occasions, but Captain J. W. Burgess and the crew were enthusiastically cheered when tney stepped ashore. An informal reception was held in the base building, the Government, the Auckland Harbour Board, the Auckland City Council, Union Airways, and Pan American Airways being represented. . ~ Crowds began to gather around the Mechanics Bay base and on Campbell s Point early in the afternoon, in spite of the rain, which was falling intermittently. By 2 o’clock, several thousand people had assembled, and many more were in cars along the \vaterfront road. A little after 2 o’clock the sky in the west and south began to lighten, and sunshine gleamed fitfully on the harbour waters. The wind-sock cn the breakwater indicated a gentle westerly breeze. Inside the base building were a large official party and a score or more of guests.

Circuit of Harbour Just before 2.30 the Ao-tea-roa appeared suddenly over North Head emerging from the mist fringing a rainstorm which covered HauraKi Gull. In a few moments it was heading diagonally toward King’s wharf. Banking at a steep angle it turned in a comparatively narrow arc, descending as it did so, and roared past the rear of the base buildings at a height that seemed little more than 150 feet. From this salute it rose again and made a second and wider circuit, passing over Albert Park and Parnell. Reappearing, it came down on a long slant toward the large patch of water off Point Resolution, which was being patrolled by the two base tenders and the harbour boards launch Ferro. It touched water in the fairway at a comfortable distance from the end of the mole and quickly lost way in a welter of foam. The two launches hurried into the basin utter it at full speed. As the mooring hatch in the nose opened another member of the crew climbed out to fasten the blue New Zealand civil aviation flag t<» a staff above the hull. To e x P er ts as well as to laymen, the facility with which the flying-boat was berthed tail-first in the Braby pontoon was remarkable. When it had turned it Stopped precisely in position alongside a buoy. Two heavy lines attached to electric capstans were taken out to it in punts, one being run through a block on the buoy and the other fixed to. the stern. Slowly the massive boat was warped into the horseshoe of the pontoon, half a - dozen Air Force ratings from Hobsonville easing it into its -final position with rubber-ended poles. Less than 15 minutes after the Ao-tea-roa had alighted the now familiar figure of Captain Burgess emerged and the whole ship’s company, together with five aircraft- engineers, who were passengers, marched up the staging to an accompaniment applause and cheers. They were met by the port health officer. Dr. Watson, and conducted to the examination room where the formalities were completed in a minute or two.

Official Reception The official reception was brief. There were no speeches. Captain Burgess and his first officer (Mr W. J. Craig) were welcomed by the chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board (Mr W. B. Darlow) and the Mayor (Sir Ernest Davis), Mr C. A. Furlong (Department of Internal Affairs, representing the Prime Minister and the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom,* Sir Harry Batterbee), the Controller of Civil Aviation (Group Captain T. M. Wilkes), Mr J. N. Greenland and Mr C. S. White (Union Airways), and Mr Harold Gatty (New Zealand representative of Pan American Airways). Mr Craig was also greeted by his father. In addition to the commander and crew, the Ad-tea-roa carried five engineers, The flying-boat’s personnel, all of whom will remain in New Zealand, was: Captain J. W. Burgess commander; Mr W. J. Craig, first officer; Mr G. W; Cussans,. senior radio Officer; Mr R. A. Phillips, flight steward; Mr R. S. Peek, engineer; Mr E. R. Macnamara, engineer; Mr S. J. Bradshaw, instrument engineer; Mr B. Knee, chief engine Inspector; Mr J. Brown Smith-Sperry, engineer. In addition to Captain Burgess, Messrs Craig, Peek, and Macnamara are New Zealanders.

Many items of luggage were unloaded from the flying-boat before she was transferred to her over-night moorings. These did not escape the usual Customs formaliites.

REGULAR SERVICE IN NOVEMBER

STATEMENT BY UNION AIRWAYS SURVEY FLIGHTS! BY AO-TEA-ROA (lU9I •ASSOCXATIOST TXUCS&AIt.) AUCKLAND, August 28. After the delivery of the tvyo other Tasman flying-boats a regular service between Auckland and Sydney will probably be started in November. This statement was made to-night by Union Airways in confirmation of information received from Sydney that it was hoped

AN UNEVENTFUL TRIP

BAD WEATHER ON NEW ZEALAND COAST

CAPTAIN BURGESS PRAISES RADIO SERVICE (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, August 20. From the time it left Rose Bay, Sydney, until it moved to its moorings at Auckland the Ao-tea-roa was never out of, touch with the base authorities. There was a regular interchange of information between the flying-boat and the Musick Memorial radio station at Tamaki, and officials at the base at Mechanics Bay were constantly informed of its progress. Assisted for the most part by following winds, and flying at altitudes ranging between 6000 feet and 9000 feet, the machine experienced good weather until it approached the New Zealand coast. This was the second occasion during the 12 days flight from Southampton that bad weather was experienced, and although laconically described by members of the crew as being “pretty dirty,” it failed to qualify their statement that the long flight was completely uneventful. The wind was strong from the northwest when the flying-boat left Sydney at 7;i2 a.m. (New Zealand time). Captain Burgess stated, ’>ut at 8 o’clock when the machine was flying at 6000 feet there was a following south-west breeze. At 11 o’clock it was making 151 knots with only 520 miles of the total of 1400 miles left to coyer. This progress was maintained until several hundred miles from the New Zealand coast, when the wind veered, to the north-west.

“Approaching New Zealand we encountered a tropical storm,” Captain Burgess said. “We saw the coast and after first trying to go round to the south of the disturbance, we finally pushed on through it direct for Auckland, flying on wireless bearing and crossing the coastline six to 10 miles south o* the city. We would have arrived 20 minutes ahead of schedule had it not been for the storm that was encountered.”

The quality of the aviation radio service that was available for the Tasman crossing was praised by Captain Burgess. Meteorological data had been obtained from Lord Howe Island, but it had not been necessary to make use of the Tamaki-Awarua-Lord Howe triangle to obtain reciprocal bearings. The earlier stages of the flight from Southampton were described by Captain Burgess and members o # the crew as uneventful. Excellent weather had been encountered with two exceptions, the first occasion being when the Ao-tea-roa crossed the monsoon belt between Calcutta and Penang, and the second when th" flying-boat was near New Zealand. The machine had performed perfectly it was stated, and no difficulty had been experienced in maintaining the schedule.

PAN AMERICAN CLIPPER

ARRIVAL AT CANTON ISLAND

FLIGHT TO AUCKLAND TO-MORROW tFRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) . AUCKLAND. August 28. Covering the 1974 miles from Canton Island in 13 hours 12 minutes, the Pan American Airways clipper landed at Noumea, New Caledonia, at 6.30 p.m. New Zealand time, on her survey flight to Auckland. There is provision for two days’ stop at Noumea, and if the weather is suitable, the final stage of the journey to Auckland will be undertaken on Wednesday. The clipper’s departure from Canton Island was delayed for a day through vital weather information failing to come from Suva on Saturday night. Actually, conditions in the area subsequently proved favourable; but in the absence of precise knowledge, which observations from the Fiji area would have furnished, it was deemed advisable to hold the flying-boat at Canton Island for another day. Taking off from Canton Island at 5.20 a.m. New Zealand time, the clipper met good weather throughout the flight to Noumea to-day. During her stay in New Caledonia opportunity will be taken by the United States Government and Pan American officials to make a thorough examination of the newly-constructed base. The machine, is expected to leave on the final stage of the flight early on Wednesday morning, landing at Auckland in the afternoop.

that the Australia! and Awarua, the two remaining flying-boats to be used on the service, would be flown to New Zealand in October. The vice-chairman of Qantas Empire Airways (Mr A. E. Rudder) stated m Sydney last week that th'? fact that Tasman Empire Airways, which would operate the service, had not yet been formed into a company, was of small moment. The company would be formed well before the service was ready to begin. . ■ ■, ' . . Until the other two flying-boats are delivered the Ao-tea-rca will be used for training personnel and it is probable that a number of survey flights will be made. These will embrace the Pacific as well as the Tasman, and it is understood, when a comprehensive engineering check, to be started tomorrow, is completed, the first survey flight will be to Suva. ,