STARLIFTER TO FLY SOUTH

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31197, 22 October 1966, Page 1

STARLIFTER TO FLY SOUTH

The most modern long-range jet transport aircraft used by the United States Air Force—the Lockheed Cl4l Starlifter—is expected to make an experimental flight to the Antarctic next month.

The Starlifter, which looks like a giant bat, attracted several thousand persons to Christchurch airport last October when it made its first appearance in New Zealand.

Lieutenant-Colonel J. W. Hanley, project officer for the evaluation of the Cl4l for Antarctic operations, said in Christchurch, that the flight to McMurdo Station would probably take place in midNovember.

“This is not a fully operational flight but is being carried out for cold weather evaluation,” he said. “If the Starlifter is found suitable the aircraft might be used in conjunction with other aircraft to support the Antarctic programme in future seasons,” said Colonel Hanley.

Colonel Hanley belongs to the 60th Military Airlift Wing based at Travis Air Force base, California, which proposes to make the first flight to Antarctica with the Starlifter.

The Starlifters were heavily committed in airlifts to Europe

and the Far East, he said. One of the reasons for the experimental flight was that the Military Air Transport Command was reducing its Hercules operations. Colonel Hanley arrived in Christchurch on Tuesday for technical discussions with United States Navy officials about the flight. He will remain at the Navy base until the Starlifter arrives. He hopes to go south on the aircraft.

The Starlifter is the biggest jet transport to land at Christchurch. It has a wing span of 160 ft, a fuselage length of 143 ft, and a tail height of 39ft. At an average cruising speed of 500 m.p.h. the aircraft has a range of almost 4000 miles, carrying 28 tons of cargo.