RECORD TASMAN CROSSING

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26745, 31 May 1952, Page 8

RECORD TASMAN CROSSING

FAST FLIGHT BY STRATOCRUISER 3HRS 48MIN FROM SYDNEY (New Zealand Press Association) , AUCKLAND, May 30. For the first time in history the Tasman Sea was crossed to-day by a civil aircraft in less than four hours. The flight was made from Mascot Aerodrome, Sydney, to Whenuapai, Auckland, in 3hr 48min by the Pan American Airways Stratocruiser, Queen of the Skies.

The departure time from Mascot was 11.18 a.m. (Sydney time), and the aircraft was overhead at Whenuapai at 5.06 p.m. New Zealand time. Flying at heights of up to 23,000 ft, the pressurised Stratocruiser was aided by strong tail-winds. The commander was Captain W. Gray. The 70-ton airliner not only set a new civil aviation record, but equalled the fastest recorded time ever made by a military aircraft between Sydney and Auckland. This time (3hr 48min) was made by a high-speed research Mosquito fighter-bomber of the Royal Australian Air Force in December, 1946. The previous fastest AucklandSydney crossing by a civil aircraft was made in May, 1951, by a British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines DCS. The time was 4hr 25min.

The first Tasman crossing from Richmond Aerodrome. Sydney, to Wigram Aerodrome. Christchurch, was made by Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith in 14hr 58min on September 10 and 11, 1928. A second record was established today by the Stratocruiser. It left Whenuapai at 8.15 o’clock to-night for North America with 57 passengers, the largest list ever taken from Auckland. Eighteen were from Sydney and 39 more joined here.