American Planes To Come To N.Z. For Air Force Day

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28532, 11 March 1958, Page 12

American Planes To Come To N.Z. For Air Force Day

(New Zealand Pn

'ess Association)

WELLINGTON, March 10. Four FlOO Super Sabre jet fighters of the United States Air Force will lead a big team of American bomber, transport, and fighter aircraft to take part m the. Air Force Day programme at Ohakea on March 29. The Americans will also send two KCI3S jet tankers, two R 866 twin-jet reconnaissance bombers, two or three Globemasters, a 847 Strato-jet, and a KC97 pistonengined tanker. Only the Globemaster has been seen in New Zealand before. Announcing details of the American participation today, a Royal New Zealand Air Force spokesman said that with Royal Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, and United States Air Force aircraft supplementing the Royal New Zealand Air Force, it would be by far the biggest public display of military airpower yet seen in New Zealand. Nearly 40 aircraft, representing at least 17 types, will be seen at Ohakea. Of the four Sabre jets coming to New Zealand, one is a dual version used as a fighter-bomber superiority fighter, or trainer. The first supersonic operational aircraft to be developed for the United States Air Force, the Super

Sabre sped through the sound barrier on a level run on its first 35-minute flight. It will be the fastest aeroplane seen in New Zealand to date.

The Boeing Stratojet, with its distinctive external jet engine pods, is a medium bomber with a maximum speed of more than 500 miles an ‘hour. Powered by six turbo-jets, the Boeing was the first large jet-propelled aircraft to be fitted with sweptback wings and tail surfaces. The American force coming to New Zealand is to be supported by three tankers. Two of these, the KCl3s’s, are jets, while the KC97 is a piston-engined military version of the Boeing Stratocruiser. The KCI3S is the standard aerial tanker for the U.S.A.F.’s Strategic Air Command. Details are still secret, but it is known to have a cruising speed of about 600 miles an hour. The R 866 is a twin-jet reconnaissance bomber, slightly larger than the Canberra. Efforts are being made to have these and other visiting aircraft appear over other parts of New Zealand. At Ohakea on Air Force Day they will be seen by an expected 40,000 or more persons both in the flying display and on the ground.