PROBABLE VISIT

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 62, 10 September 1937, Page 10

PROBABLE VISIT

TO CAPITAL CITY

PAN-AMERICAN CUPPER

TOWARDS END OF YEAR

Though Wellington people and also a great many visitors who made a special trip to Wellington %vere disappointed in March when the Pan-American Clipper Ship's visit had to bb cancelled on account of bad weather conditions over the southern part of the North Island and the lack of the full radio guidance desired by the commander, Captain Musick, it is probable, Mr. Harold Gatty told a "Post" reporter today, that a visit will be made by a similar Sikorsky Clipper, as an extension of one of the two further survey flights from San Francisco to Nev/ Zealand, before the end of the year.

. . "The company regretted very much that it was necessary to cancel the arrangements at the very last minute;1 said Mr. Gatty, "particularly as the 'Government, the harbour and city ■authorities, and the business people of Wellington had arranged functions for the entertainment of Captain Musick 'and the officers of the ship. However, circumstances were against the wisdom of the flight, not only on account of bad weather with low visibility, but because, in the brief time available it had not been possible, even with the most willing assistance of the officials of the Wellington Harbour Board, to arrange more than makeshift mooring and handling facilities. It was a disappointment not only to the people of Wellington, but to all who were associated on the company's side with the survey flight. Though it is not proposed at present that Wellington should be the terminal of the trans-Pacific service, we feel that the intended visit should still be made to Wellington as the capital city."

SUITABILITY OF WELLINGTON

HARBOUR.

There was no question at all about the suitability of Wellington Harbour as a flying-boat base, said Mr. Gatty, excepting the at present important consideration of geographical position. Auckland was the first large centre •reached by a flying-boat from the horth; Wellington was 300 miles further south. ' Today that was a real consideration, for the machines which .would be used in the Pacific flights at the end of this year and during the first months of 1938 did not possess so wide a margin of range that another 300 miles could be treated as of little account and could be lightly added to the already long flight from Pago Pago to Auckland; but within a few months of the commencement of the regular -service the Sikorsky Clipper would be •replaced by the much larger and greater range and load carrying Boeing Clipper, about' double the size of the Sikorsky and one and a-half times that of the Martin Clipper, at present the largest flying-boat in operation. The additional distance would then not be so serious a hurdle. Nor, he said, is the Boeing Clipper by any means the last word to be said about flying-boat development; it is simply the last word ■for the present.

RANGE OF THE LARGER

CLIPPERS

: The route through the South Pacific surveyed at the beginning of the year and that proposed for the commencement of the regular service, said Mr. Gatty, was as follows:—Alameda (San Francisco) to Honolulu 2410 miles, to Kingman Reef 1100 miles, to Pago Pago 1550 miles, to Auckland 1850 miles, so that, the Pago Pago-Auckland stage was the second longest, and almost as great a distance as the, transatlantic crossing from Newfoundland to Ireland (1900 miles). The range of the Sikorsky was ample for that distance, provided that the payload—passengers, mail, and express matter —was kept within fixed ■limits, but the Boeing would have ample range with a far greater payload, so much so that it was possible that' when these new machines were available the Kingman Reef call might be omitted and the 2650 miles from Honolulu to Pago Pago would be flown non-stop. This would then be the greatest ocean stage flown on any ..world air route.

HAS INFERIORITY

COMPLEX."

"From what I have heard it appears that Wellington has in some way contracted an inferiority complex over the suitablity of her harbour as a flying base," said Mr. Gatty. "I have heard it seriously stated that Wellington Harbour is not and cannot be suitable for a flying-boat terminal. And that has been said, not by people outside Wellington, but by Wellington people.

"There is ample landing space and there are here what are unfortunately lacking on certain other harbour •waters, areas of water naturally well sheltered from prevailing winds and seas kicked up by wind within the harbour limits. There is more clear water in Wellington Harbour than in most harbours so close to cities, and there is no confusion of ferry and small craft, nor does it seem likely that ferry lines will be developed in future, as theje is rapid road access to most of the land to be developed round the harbour.

"Not only is Wellington Harbour quite suitable for flying-boats as they are being built today, but the expanse of clear water is so great that it will be suitable for any future flying-boat development that one can visualise. If a flying-boat can't land here, well, it can't land anywhere.

"I am not suggesting that there is any intention to transfer the PanAmerican base from Auckland to Wellington, but it is not correct to assume that Wellington Harbour is not suitable for flying-boats, except that, for the time being, there may be the handicap of additional distance to be flown in approaching New Zealand from the north."

Mr. Gatty yesterday afternoon visited various parts of the waterfront in company with the General Manager of the Wellington Harbour Board, Mr. A. G. Barnett.