ROYAL VISIT TO CANADA

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28372, 3 September 1957, Page 13

ROYAL VISIT TO CANADA

Flight In U.S. , Plane (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, September 2. The Queen may have to fly to North America in an American airliner, the “Daily Mail” said today.

Safety precautions are among the reasons why plans to use the Bristol Britannia 312 airliner may have to be abandoned.

The paper said: “The plane in which she was to have made the tour, flying non-stop from London to Ottawa, will be delivered by the Bristol Cortipany to 8.0.A.C. in a few days. Acceptance trials are in hand, but there is little time to train a Royal crew. “The choice for the Queen's tour may be between two American aircraft, the Douglas DC-7C and a Boeing Stratocruiser, now in service on 8.0.A.C.’s North Atlantic routes,” said the “Daily Mail.”

“The Queen could use the short-range Britannia, in which the Queen Mother flew to South Africa. If a short-range aircraft was used, the flight would have to be made over a more northerly route, with probably a stop at Gander.”

Commander Richard Colville, press secretary at Buckingham Palace, left by air last night for New Y.ork to make advance arrangements for the Royal visit to North America. The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh are due to visit Canada between October 12 and 16 and the United States between October 16 and 21. Commander Colville was accompanied on his flight to New York by Air Commodore Sir Edward Fielden. captain of the Queen’s Flight. He said: “It has not yet been decided which aircraft will be used. I am afraid there is not much chance for a British machine.”