Inspection Of Boeing

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31781, 11 September 1968, Page 1

Inspection Of Boeing

The National Airways Corporation’s first Boeing 737 will be open for inspection by the public at Christchurch Airport next Sunday between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Announcing this yesterday, the Christchurch branch manager of N.A.C. (Mr J. E. Davies) said that this did not mean that the public would be allowed to walk through the aircraft.

“People will be allowed up the steps, either fore or aft,

and will be able to walk across the plane and down the steps on the other side. As they cross the aircraft they will be able to look down the cabin area which will be roped off,” said Mr Davies. The position of the 737 at the airport had yet to be decided, he said. The 737 will arrive at Wellington on its delivery flight from the United States, about 11 a.m. on Wednesday. A welcome ceremony will be held in Wellington and the aircraft is expected at Christchurch about 3.30 p.m. The Mayor of Christchurch (Sir George Manning) and

perhaps one or two other civic dignitaries will attend an informal welcome of the aircraft.

Soon after the 737 has landed it will be taken into a hangar where the 2009-gallon long range fuel tanks will be removed for return to the United States, and the seats, which were manufactured in Britain, will be assembled in the cabin area. The 90 seats will arrive aboard the 737. This is expected to take from Thursday until Saturday.

Route familiarisation will begin on Monday and the aircraft will fly out of Christchurch for several weeks. '