Friendship Flight To Mt Cook Today

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31017, 24 March 1966, Page 1

Friendship Flight To Mt Cook Today

A Fokker Friendship, flown by a Dutch crew, wil] today demonstrate its capabilities in the Mount Cook region. On board will be representatives of Mount Cook Airlines, the National Airways Corporation, and the Department of Civil Aviation.

The Friendship is expected to be flown by a Fokker company pilot, Captain P. Brey, who came to New Zealand with the aircraft on its delivery flight from Amsterdam. Last month the managing director of Mount Cook Airlines (Mr H. R. Wigley) suggested the Government should decide whether Friendships or similar types of aircraft could use existing grass and gravel airstrips. He said at the time that if they were permitted to use these strips, the problem of replacement aircraft would be considerably eased and the Government would be saved a large sum in sealing strips and the 11 grass fields on N.A.C.’s secondary routes. Today’s fllight to Mount Cook was arranged between the Government and the Fokker company. Nothing of it was known by N.A.C. staff in Christchurch yesterday.

All that was known was that the Friendship will be the eleventh to be added to the airline’s fleet. It landed at Christchurch airport about 2 p.m. with Dutch registration and in the colours of Aer Lingus, from which it was purchased by N.A.C. On board were Captain D. Gale, N.A.C. flight superintendent (lines). Captain N. D. Mein, and Mr M. V. Downes, an N.A.C. engineer. In addition there were Captain Brey and Mrs Brey and the Fokker representative in Australia.

Until today's demonstration flights have been completed the Friendship belongs to the Fokker company. Afterwards it will be handed over to N.A.C., which will carry out modifications necessary to meet its requirements, and paint it in the corporation s colours.