PLANE ON THE SCALES

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27072, 22 June 1953, Page 13

PLANE ON THE SCALES

SOLENT FLYING-BOAT WEIGHED

25L8 OF EQUIPMENT FOR 22j TONS

“The Press” Special Service AUCKLAND, June 20. Weighing an aircraft in as much time as it takes to weigh its passengers and luggage sounds a difficult task. Yesterday, however, a 50,560pound Solent flying-boat was weighed at Mechanics Bay in a few minutes, the equipment used weighing only about 25 pounds itself, much less than the scales a passenger stands on. The Solent, high and dry in the hangar, was jacked up and balanced on three small discs: one under each set of wheels below the wings and the third beneath the tail. The huge hangar doors were kept shut in case a draught of wind shifted the aircraft off its precarious rest. A small box known as an electronic weighing unit recorded the weight of the aircraft; rubber-covered lines ran from the box to each jack. Checking the weight were the chief inspector for Tasman Empire Airways Mr A. C. Williams, another member of the company and a representative of the Civil Aviation Branch of the Air Department.

Each of the company’s aircraft is weighed once a year, usually in winter, the off-season for traffic. This job is done after the annual strip-down and check-over, a task which takes about five weeks.

The flying-boat which was weighed, the Aranui. will be in the air on Tuesday with new paint, new upholstery and in tip-top condition.