Export Air Freighters

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30845, 2 September 1965, Page 5

Export Air Freighters

"The Press” Special Service AUCKLAND, Sept. 1.

Huge air freighters each capable of carrying 15,000 to 20,000 tons of cargo a year into North America were envisaged by Mr F. A. Reeves, general manager of Air New Zealand, in an address to the Auckland Rotary Club. He said large freight-car-riers were well beyond the study stage and at least three manufacturers in North America were working on the project and constructing fullscale models. Present aircraft weighed up to 300,0001 b fully laden. Those now under construction would weigh 750,0001 b and would be able to carry 120,000 to 150,0001 b a distance of 4000 miles. “And these large freighters are not too far away,” said Mr Reeves. Discussing the growth of aviation, Mr Reeves said 175 m persons a year were now flying on international routes and this involved 7600 aircraft. It was estimated that an airliner landed or took off

every 1J seconds of daylight hours.

Because of its geographic isolation and its dependence on communications, New Zealand required its own airline, he said. The country had lost the control of other means of transport.

New Zealand, he said, should also have under its

control the means of spearheading the development of trade and an airline was the best way of doing this.

Mr Reeves said the airline was also studying supersonic aircraft. These were still some way off, particularly in this area. He thought they would not be generally accepted until after 1975.