FLYING BOAT LANDS IN DARKNESS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27010, 9 April 1953, Page 3

FLYING BOAT LANDS IN DARKNESS

FLARE PATH LAID AT EVANS BAY (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 8. The flying-boat Ararangi landed in darkness in Evans Bay at 5.38 a.m. today. The plane, which was making a flight to the Chatham Islands, arrived from Auckland. In spite of squally weather, the passengers and crew were able to see the flare path from a height of 3000 feet above the bay. The approach of the aircraft to the pontoon was hindered when the moor-

ing rope became entangled in the propeller of Tasman Airways’ launch. The rope had to be cut away, and further operations carried out with the aid of a dinghy. As the accident temporarily put the launch out of action, the dinghy had to be used again when the Solent Aranui arrived from Sidney at 7.24 a.m. A rain squall at the time made conditions unpleasant, especially for Mr Dick Harvey, who found himself struggling in the water when he overbalanced from the dinghy in attempting to secure the mooring rope. The Ararangi left for the Chathams four minutes after the arrival of the Aranui. Among the 40 passengers from Sydney in the Aranui was a party of Swiss bound for the Roxburgh hydro project.