REFUELLING OF VALIANTS

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27764, 15 September 1955, Page 10

REFUELLING OF VALIANTS

SPECIAL UNIT TO BE USED

EQUIPMENT DESIGNED AND MADE IN N.Z. The refuelling of the Vickers Valiant jet bombers, which will arrive at Harewood next Monday on a proving flight from England, will be carried out by a special pu Ding unit built in Auckland and embodying the most up-to-date equipment for refuelling longrange aircraft. Designed by the Shell Oil Company of New Zealand, which will operate the unit and supply the jet fuel, it is capable of pumping fuel into the aircraft’s tanks at the rate of 200 gallons a minute. The jet fuel, which is not normally stored at Harewood, was brought from Wellington in a coastal tanker. It will be carried to the airport in road tankers, each with a capacity of 3000 gallons, which will be coupled to the pumping unit. It is estimated that the Valiants will require between 10,000 and 15,000 gallons of fuel when they arrive. The Shell Company’s South Island operations manager (Mr G. A. Sanders) said yesterday that his company would also supply the 100 octane fuel and lubricants for the Hastings aircraft which will be refuelled by the pumping unit. Mounted on a 30cwt truck chassis, the unit opens up at the sides rather like a pie-cart. It has two hose reels each 60 feet long, which are connected to the tanker by special self-sealing couplings which prevent the fuel from spilling in the event of the hose becoming disconnected. These couplings also enable a hose to be changed quickly from one tanker to another without stopping the pump. A microfilter on the unit ensures that no foreign bodies enter the aircraft’s tanks.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR PARKING

ENCLOSURE NEAR AIRCRAFT

Parking for about 840 cars will be available in front of the Canterbury Aero Club’s hangar on the airport at Harewood on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday during the visit of the two four-jet Valiants and five Hastings aircraft of the Royal Air Force. A charge of 2s a car will be made each day for admission to this enclosure, which is the same as that allotted to pedestrian visitors to the finish of the London-Christchurch air race two years ago. Cars will thus be very close to the taxi-way, where the aircraft will be lined up. The public will not be admitted through the main airport entrance except on business during the visit of the aircraft, but visitors to see them should still arrive by way of Burnside road, and -.t the main gates they will be directed to the right into the parking enclosure. The shingle road running along this side of the airport will be kept clear for vehicles to depart down the extension of Wairakei road.