AGRICULTURAL AIRCRAFT

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27632, 13 April 1955, Page 14

AGRICULTURAL AIRCRAFT

ASSEMBLY PLANT AT RUKUHIA

PARTS IMPORTED FROM CALIFORNIA "The Press” Special Service HAMILTON, April 12.

Assembly of prefabricated aircraft is proceeding on a large scale at the Rukuhia aerodrome, where 100 Fletcher topdressing aircraft are being built. The technical adviser is Mr Gerald Barden, who was one of the designers of the aircraft. Only 18 months ago, as assistant project manager for the Fletcher Aviation Corporation, of California, Mr Earden was engaged in designing the aircraft, which is known as the FU24. Now, at Rukuhia, he is watching the first planes come off the assembly line. He is their test pilot and will tutor the pilots who will fly them. The New Zealand representatives of the Fletcher Corporation, Messrs Cable, Price, Ltd., are importing the parts of the aircraft. These are being assembled by James Aviation, Ltd., and handed back to the corporation, which has already sold the first 100 aircraft in New Zealand. In due course the base will be used for the whole of the Southern Hemisphere, and completely assembled planes will be sent by ship to Australia and the South Pacific.

The first nine FU24s to come to New Zealand were assembled in California. Now components for six planes come from California in one crate but in some 10,000 different parts. The motors arrive almost completely assembled. The aluminium alloy parts are treated with a preparation that is the result of co-operation in experiments between naval and agricultural scientists. The alloy will withstand a great deal of corrosion, which is a danger caused by the acids present in the topdressing substances.

Each part is numbered and drilled ready for the rivets. To use Mr Barden’s words. “Anyone who could read and press the trigger of the riveting gun could put the planes together.” Except for the five leading hands, the staff of 35 were previously inexperienced.

The FU24s retail for £7OOO each and by the time the first 100 planes have been assembled at Rukuhia is.is expected that the work on one aircraft will amount to 1000 man-hours.