The Press SATURDAY, MAY 4, 1957. Visit of Comet Airliner

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28268, 4 May 1957, Page 10

The Press SATURDAY, MAY 4, 1957. Visit of Comet Airliner

The Royal Air Force Transport Command Comet airliner, which will arrive at Harewood this morning, is the first pure jet, civil-type aircraft to visit the South Island. It will create interest not only as a representative of the long-distance machines likely to dominate main international routes in the next few years but as a famous aircraft in its own right, and an example of the lead in jet propulsion established by Britain after the war. In the pure jet field this lead, which was first strikingly demonstrated by the Comet, has been overtaken by American manufacturers. They seem certain to dominate the high-speed North Atlantic services for the next few years. Comets will be used by the British Overseas Airways Corporation on shorter hops in the Eastern Hemisphere, and by Capital Airlines in the United States; but the development of the Comet for longer distances has now been dropped. Instead, British designers are working on new plans for more versatile jet aircraft to be produced in about 1962. In the meantime British industry is doing well with the proved and economical turbo-prop aircraft, the Britannia and the Viscount. Both have sold well in foreign markets. New Zealanders, remembering the visit of a Viscount during the Centennial Air Race in 1953, are looking forward to the introduction of Viscounts on the New Zealand trunk route at the end of this year. Although the Comet has not quite fulfilled its early promise, it has a place in history as the first civilian jet

aircraft of the post-war aviation revolution. Pleasure at its visit to Christchurch will be heightened because it has been brought to New Zealand by the Commander-in-Chief of Transport Command, Air Marshal Sir Andrew McKee, who is a former Christchurch resident. Some satisfaction should be felt, too, in that Harewood is the only civil aerodrome in New Zealand capable of handling large jet airliners. Auckland still has to manage with a share of the Air Force base at Whenuapai, which is not, in any case, suitable for large modern aircraft in all conditions. Auckland will eventually have its own airport at Mangere; but that time is still some years away. Wellington interests have not given up hope that Paraparaumu may also be developed beyond the requirements of an alternative to the internal airport being built at Rongotai; and the Minister in charge of Civil Aviation (Mr Shand) has suggested that Paraparaumu may be used by aircraft from Australia in the next eight to 10 years. As this is quite contrary to the recommendation of the Tymms Mission in 1948, Mr Shand should explain 'what developments in airport operation have made the high Sills to the north-east of this airfield no longer an insuperable obstacle to its use by aircraft after a long sea crossing. However, Mr Shand is at least clear that Paraparaumu will not be adequate for the long-range aircraft using “ truly international air routes ”. Harewood is adequate for all purposes.