Project Magnet arrives in N.Z.

Press, 21 August 1982, Page 1

Project Magnet arrives in N.Z.

A United States Navy I Orion aircraft, equipped with < electronic devices, arrived in i Christchurch yesterday. The aircraft also carried a team I of scientists who are study- I ing the Earth's magnetic i field. I The scientists are mem- I bers of Project Magnet, es- < tablished by the United i States Naval Oceanographic i Office, in 1951. It uses the ; Orion.to make a systematic and comprehensive mapping i of the Earth’s magnetic field I

to provide more accurate data for navigation and magnetic charts. The head of the scientific team of five, Mr Fred Valentine, said yesterday that the project had no secret military component, at all. All the information the project collected was published by the United States Government and was freely available to everyone. The aircraft and its equipment cost $lO million to build and would probably

cost about $3O million to replace. The plane was demagnetised to enable it to make the readings of the Earth’s field. Extra fuel tanks have been installed in the areas which in military Orions will be used for weapons. The plane yesterday flew direct from Honolulu, a fatiguing 14-hour trip. With the equipment, the five scientists, the crew of 11, and their luggage there is little spare space. On long' flights some of

them had to sleep on the ‘ floor, said Mr Valentine. The Orion makes four world-wide trips every year. Making her first trip with this flight is a Mississippi geophysicist, Betty De-Blanc, : i aged 26..5he said that for her' it was a dream come true. She hqd‘ always wanted to visit Australia and New Zeap. land since a lecturer at university showed slides of his visit here. Another woman aboard the plane is a . mechanic in the

United States Navy crew that services the aircraft. Because the plane had no military role women are al- . lowed .to join the crew, said the senior officer, Lieutenant Commander I. I. Ingram. ’ The plane will go next to Australia, out over the Indian Ocean, back to Australia,. from where it will make a flight over the South Pole, then back home to its base at Lexington Park, Maryland. The trip will take eight to 10 weeks.