Tailored freighter plan

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32957, 1 July 1972, Page 2

Tailored freighter plan

(N.Z. Preu Association)

NEW PLYMOUTH,

June 30

Safe Air, New Zealand's primary air freight carrier, is seriously considering having a new type of twin-engined cargo plane tailored as a replacement for its fleet of Bristol freighters.

The director and general manager of Safe Air (Mr D. P. Lynskey), said in an interview that he believes the aircraft could be built in New Zealand.

New Zealand aircraft companies capable of handling this task include Air New Zealand, the National Airways Corporation, Air Parts (New Zealand), Ltd, of Hamilton (builders of the Fletcher); and Aero Engine Services, Ltd, also of Hamilton (builders of the AirtouretO“Both Hamilton companies told me they could set up production lines to build the aircraft, provided it could be financially justified by a guaranteed minimum throughput,” Mr Lynskey said. The new aircraft exists at present only as basic sketches prepared to Mr Lynskey*s specifications. Still unnamed. it is known as the

“D.P.L. concept” and jokingly termed the “friendly freighter” by one New Zealand manufacturer because of its amiable appearance. “We can keep our Bristols

r in the air until the 1980 s; we • will have no major air-frame I renewal problems until about > 1981, and engine spares are assured until about the same > time.

“So we have a few years to play with, and if a suitable replacement should become available in the reasonably near future, we could discard the ’tailored’ alternative,” Mr Lynskey said.