FLYING BOATS FOR R.N.Z.A.F.

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28553, 5 April 1958, Page 11

FLYING BOATS FOR R.N.Z.A.F.

U.S. Replacements May Be Sought (From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, April 4. The Royal New Zealand Air Force is likely to buy United States aircraft when it replaces its force of veteran Short Sundterland maritime reconnaissance flying boats. The Air Force believes that for this work the flying boat has advantages over the best available land-based aircraft and that the < United States is ahead of Britain in the development of military flying boats, according to the Minister of Defence (M P. G. Connolly) Asked whether the continued expenditure on the development of the R.N.Z.A..F. flying boat base at Lauthala Bay, Fiji, indicated that the Government intended to ' continue to rely on sea-based reconnaissance, Mr Connolly said: “You will recall that the White Paper issued last year gave as one of the essential roles of the Air Force the task of martime reconnaissance.” The reconstruction of the base presupposed New Zealand's continued reliance on sea-based aircraft Asked whether there were flying boats in view which might combine the advantages of the existing types with the speed and range of landplanes such as the Lockheed Neptune, Mr Connolly said: “Present indications would suggest that the United Kingdom aircraft manufacturers are still interested in finding markets for flying boats, and are continuing design studies; Our requirements are known to them, but are insufficient in themselves to warrant the cost of producing a prototype. If another interested air force can be found, the manufacturers are willing to produce a new type incorporating the latest design features! “On the other hand, American sources are at present further advanced, and are actively seeking to improve present aircraft. They are also developing new designs. The United States Navy is still convinced that there is a distinct place for the flying-boat, particularly in Pacific operations.” It was known that the United States was planning for the refurbishing of the Martin Mariner (PSM-2), he said. This might meet R.N.Z.A.F. specifications, although such an aircraft might not match the Neptune in speed—a matter of little consequence in its role as a reconnaissance aircraft —its range would certainly be commensurate with Pacific operational requirements. “The number of flying-boats required in New Zealand is small, and to build to our requirements alone, the whole cost of design, prototype construction and proving would have to be added to the basic cost of the aircraft,”, said Mr Connolley. “For this reason we_jre forest .to accept afe. craft already in being. The only modifications that can be carried out especially for our requirements are to the equipment installed.”