ANTARCTIC FLIGHT

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30041, 28 January 1963, Page 8

ANTARCTIC FLIGHT

Constellation Puts Rack

A United StetM Novy Super Conateitatea flying from Chrtetaburch to McMurdo Sound was forced to turn back about six bourn out when tte number four engine New a cyimder. About 50 passengers were aboard Tte aircraft left Christchurch at 921 am. yeaterdey. When the fault occurred about 2.5 p.m. the patat feathered tte engine and turned back towards Christchurch. At the same time a Novy Reecuemaater took off from Christchurch airport to meet and escort the Consteteition back to Harewood, where it landed at 9 p.m. It is the first time this season that the Super ConsteUation has been forced back with engine trouble.

Soon after its return to Christchurch tte faulty engine was being inspected by Navy mechanics, who will either install a new cylinder or replace the engine. On Saturday structural stress in the wing of the

Constellation was discovered during an investigation into a small leak in the wing tank. Technical advice was sought from the Lockheed corporation in Hawaii but the “fault” was found to be safe. At the time this was being investigated it was thought a U.S.A.F. Globem«stor, which carried a replacement helicopter to the Antarctic, might replace the Constellation on its flight to McMurdo Sound.

Yesterday after the Consteltetion had left Christchurch for McMurdo Sound it was planned that the

Globemaster would leave on a flight to the United States. It was later discovered that this aircraft had developed mechanical trouble.