FIFTH SOLENT AIRCRAFT

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26528, 17 September 1951, Page 6

FIFTH SOLENT AIRCRAFT

TASMAN AIRWAYS’ PURCHASE

DELIVERY FLIGHT FROM ENGLAND

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND. September 16. Tasman Empire Airways’ fifth Solent flying-boat, which is to be used on the company’s new Samoa-Cook IslandsTahiti service, landed in Mechanics Bay at 3.35 p.m. yesterday, at the end of a 14,524-mile delivery flight from England by way of the United States. It was the first occasion that a delivery flight for Tasman Airways had been made over that route. This was made necessary because of the Persian oil dispute, which made it difficult to obtain petrol in the Middle East, The aircraft, still bearing the name “City of Belfast,” was the last Solent used by the British Overseas Airways Corporation. It flew on only one trip to South Africa, and was then taken ashore: It was then laid up for seven months before being taken over by Tasman Airways. It will be re-named “Aparima.” Captain D. W. G. Keesing, of Tasman Airways, who left New Zealand early in July to take delivery of the aircraft, described the trip as uneventful. Over the whole route the engines performed excellently, and it was not necessary to remove the cowlings at any stage. “Because of the long hop from San Francisco to Honolulu—a distance of 2110 nautical miles—we were delayed for some time while waiting for favourable winds,” said Captain Keesing. “Extra fuel tanks were fitted in one of the lower cabins and in the wings. 171686 increased our total capacity by 800 gallons to 3435 gallons. We made the long hop in 11 hours 54 minutes.” Strong head winds over the Atlantic forced Captain Keesing to change his original flight plans, and reach Newfoundland by way of Iceland, instead of flying there directly from Northern Ireland. From Newfoundland he took the aircraft down the United States coa»t to Norfolk. VlrSinla. further south to Corpus Christi, i the Gulf of Mexico, and then across to San Francisco and Honolulu. American naval bases were used as landing points. The new aircraft, in its general features, is the exact replica of the Solents previously owned by the company. It now has seating accommodation for 38 passengers, in comparison with the 45 passengers which can be accommodated by the company's other planes. The extra space available is taken up by a cocktail bar and a women’s powder lounge, both on the lower deck.

No indication can be given when the aircraft is likely to go into service. This will depend on the time it takes to make certain engine modifications.