PLANES FOR T.E.A.L.

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28450, 3 December 1957, Page 14

PLANES FOR T.E.A.L.

Four Comet Jets Offered (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, December 2. Four Comet airliners—B4-pas-senger jets designed for New Zealand requirements—have been offered for sale to Tasman Empire Airways by the de Havilland Aircraft company. Two of the aircraft would be modified for service as Royal New Zealand Air Force transports. The aircraft, Corhet 4C’s, would be ready for delivery in 1960. Two de Havilland representatives, Messrs P. F. L Hall and F. H. Lloyd, have been in New Zealand for the last week discussing the proposed sale with Tasman Empire Airways, the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and the Civil Aviation Administration. Mr Hall, a former New Zealand fighter pilot in charge of sales engineering at de Havilland, said in Auckland to-night that two jet airliners would be sufficient to handle Tasman Empire, Airways’ Tasman traffic. But a major airline could not operate with so few aircraft, and to overcome this difficulty de Havilland had suggested that two cargo aircraft be purchased and used as air force transports—operated by Tasman Empire Airways , with either t air force or , airline crews. Mr Hall said the suggestion to build the Comet 4C, a mediumrange aircraft with increased passenger seating, came from a Tasman Empire Airways captain. By buying the Comet in preference to an untried American aircraft, New Zealand would get a developed and reliable aircraft. Air Force representatives who discussed the Comet proposal with Mr Hall are reported to be very interested in the idea. Tasman Empire Airways, however, is believed to favour the Convair 880, an American jet. as a replacement for its DC6 aircraft. The Convair 880 would cost 4,000,000 dollars each. They have yet to prove themselves in service.