FLIGHT TO N.Z. FROM BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24959, 21 August 1946, Page 6

FLIGHT TO N.Z. FROM BRITAIN

ARIES TO* ATTEMPT RECORD

FAMOUS LANCASTER DUE ON SATURDAY

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 20. The R.A.F. Lancaster Aries, which is scheduled to leave England at noon tomorrow (G.M.T.) on a navigational flight to New Zealand in an attempt to break the existing record for the England-New Zealand trip, will make only two stops, each of one hour’s duration, one at Bombay and the other at Darwin.

The aircraft is due at Qhakea at: noon (New Zealand time) on Satur-1 day. If this schedule is adhered to the , flight will occupy 60 hours, and will be well within the existing record. ■ The main purpose of the flight, however, is, according to a statement by the Prime Minister’s Department, to be a navigational one. The aircraft will carry a mission from the Empire Air Navigation School at Shawbury. England headed by Air Commodore D’Ath, commandant of the school. The party will include Group Captain Stapleton and an Air Ministry representative. The captain of the aircraft is Squadron Leader Aldridge, The other officers and members of the crew are all R.A.F. personnel except Flight Lieutenant J. J. McDowell, M.8.E., of Christchurch, who will be second navigator, and is at present R.N.Z.A.F. representative at the Empire Air Navigation School. The Aries has already made many famous flights, including a flight over the North Magnetic Pole, and a record flight from England to Cape Town. Carrying 4000 gallons of fuel, it is capable of cruising for 23 consecutive hours at 240 miles an hour without refuelling. The Aries will remain in New Zealand for only a short time.

The Aries will be based at Ohakea for about a week before flying to Whenuapai. Tentative arrangements have been made for the aircraft to spend several days at Wigram from the beginning of next month, after which it will be flown to Australia.