U.S. May Use Giant Plane Next Year

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30568, 10 October 1964, Page 23

U.S. May Use Giant Plane Next Year

The new giant Lockheed Cl4l jet transport aircraft might be used next season in the United States Antarctic support force, said Lieutenant-Colonel R. D. Coffee, commanding officer of the United States Air Force detachment this season.

Because of the low con-| figuration of the Cl4l it was not very easily landed on ice runways and so if it was brought into service in the Antarctic task force it would most likely be used on the long hauls between the United States and Christchurch, said Colonel Coffee. The Cl4l can carry 50,0001 b of cargo 4600 miles, or 20,0001 b from California to Japan non-stop, a distance of 6325 miles. It has a maximum cruising speed of 550 m.p.h. and is powered by four turbofan Pratt and Whitney engines. Colonel Coffee said one of these planes was at present undergoing tests at Travis Air Force base, California, although it was not under the support wing’s operational command. He said some of the instructor crews were now being taught to fly the Cl4l and training for operational crews would not begin until early next year. The Cl4l was

[not due to become operational until April or May, he said. First Hercules Colonel Coffee arrived at Harewood on Thursday aboard the first of the Air Force Hercules. Two more are due on Sunday. He said that a fourth would arrive for 10 days, from October 21 to November 1, which would be used while maintenance was being carried out on the other three Hercules. One hundred and sixty-two men, of whom 98 per cent were new to Antarctic operation, were in the Air Force detachment this season, said Colonel Coffee. In the three months’ operation some 500 tons of cargo would be flown between Christchurch and McMurdo Station on 36 missions.

The Navy, he said, would make the inland supply flights although the Air Force would attempt to make three, possibly four, supply flights to Hallett Station before November 1. He said he believed this would be tho first time a wheeled version of the Hercules would land at Hallett. Colonel Coffee said the Navy intended trying to resupply Hallett station completely by air rather than by ship.

The commander of the Western Transport Air Force (Major-General G. B. Dany) might visit Christchurch about mid or late November, he said. Until then most of the units in the United States would be participating in “Operation Goldfire” an Army-Air Force tactical exercise.

The Air Force detachment with the Antarctic support force expected to complete its job by December 15, said Colonel Coffee. The first flights to McMurdo were planned for October 15, when two Hercules would leave Christchurch.