Regular McMurdo Flights To Start Next Thursday

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28701, 26 September 1958, Page 8

Regular McMurdo Flights To Start Next Thursday

Provided weather conditions are suitable and the ice-runway at McMurdo Sound is in order, RearAdmiral George J. Dufek, United States Antarctic commander, will order regular flights from New Zealand to commence at 2 a.m. on Thursday, October 2. Plans confirmed in Christchurch yesterday are for two Dakota aircraft to fly from Christchurch to Invercargill on Wednesday afternoon and to leave Invercargill for’McMurdo Sound at 2 a.m. on Thursday. The Navy Super Constellation airliner and two Neptune aircraft will leave Christchurch late on Wednesday night and fly direct to MpMurdo Seund. Tfley will arrive at McMurdo Sound bn Thursday morning. The Super Constellation airliner is expected to set a new record for the New Zealand to Antarctica flight. Its flying time is estimated to be eight hours and a half to nine hours.

All Dakota flights will now be made from Christchurch to Invercargill and then on to McMurdo Sound—reducing the non-stop flying distance by 300 miles. “This will become routine for all Dakotas,” said the commanding officer of Navy VX6 squadron (Captain Robert G. Slagle) yesterday.

Globemasters, Neptunes and the Super Constellation will still fly direct from Christchurch to McMurdo Sound.

Globemaster flights are planned to start on Thursday night from Harewood. Four Globemasters will leave every two hours from 10 p.m. They carry urgent cargo and passengers. Admiral Dufek will leave Harewood in his command Skymaster aircraft for Invercargill at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, and leave for McMurdo Sound early on Wednesday morning. The aircraft, commanded by Lieutenant-Comman-der Harold Hanson, will carry Admiral Dufek, Captain Joseph M. Hermanson, assistant operations chief of staff, Lieutenant-Com-mander Charles D. Robinson, assistant air operations officer. Commander John A. Mirabito, weather adviser, and the admiral’s aide. Lieutenant David B. Murton. The aircraft will also carry mail for the wintering party at McMurdo Sound. The 1800 mile flight—the shortest ever made from a landmass to the Ross Sea area—is timed to arrive at McMurdo Sound about noon on Wednesday. An oil company had sent 5900 United States gallons of aviation fuel to Invercargill by rail tank for the fuelling of the admiral’s Skymaster and the Dakota aircraft.