THAI ROYAL TOUR

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29901, 15 August 1962, Page 20

THAI ROYAL TOUR

Use Of Qantas Electra A Qantas Lockheed Electra prop jet airliner will be used by the King and Queen of Thailand during their tour of Australia and New Zealand. Captain J. S. Ross. Qantas’ flight captain of Electras, has been appointed captain-in-command of the Royal Thai Flight. The Qantas aircraft, Pacific Electra, will leave the Thai capital, Bangkok, on August 17 for Wellington, by way of Singapore, Darwin and Sydney, arriving at Wellington airport at 2.30 p.m. on August 18. Their Majesties will leave for Canberra from Christchurch airport on August 26. They will arrive at Canberra that afternoon. A Lockheed Electra airliner was selected to carry their Majesties and the party of more than 32 officials that will accompany them, because it can operate from most airports in Australia and New Zealand. The Pacific Electra will have the Royal Thai Standard painted on its fuselage for the tour and will fly the Royal Standard on arrival at each of the airports it visits.

Captain Ross will unfurl the flag immediately the aircraft has finished its landing run and take it in when His Majesty leaves the aircraft. The Royal Standard will be raised immediately His Majesty arrives on board again and will be taken in just before the start of the take-off run.

The aircraft will be fitted with a special Royal compartment for the tour which will include a divan berth, four luxuty chairs, and a polished silver ash dining table with matching vanity table and flower box. Two Qantas crews have been selected to man the Royal aircraft, primary and secondary crews each consisting of seven technical crew and five cabin attendants, including a flight hostess. A further stand-by crew of five technical aircrew and three cabin attendants, as well as a standby Electra aircraft will be available if needed during the tour.