LOCKHEED ARRIVES

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 45, 22 August 1938, Page 11

LOCKHEED ARRIVES

TOWED TO RONGOTAI

IMMEDIATE ASSEMBLY

The first two of the new Lockheed Electra monoplanes ordered by Union Airways of New Zealand, Ltd., arrived at Wellington last night on the Union Steam Ship Company's freighter Hau- I raki, from Los Angeles, via Auckland. The machine, which is to be assembled at Rongotai Aerodrome, was unloaded at Pipitea Wharf this morning, and towed to the airport, its tail being attached to the back of the lorry, the machine running on its extended undercarriage. Owing to the width of the machine, even minus wings, the route followed was round the bays, and the journey took about an hour. This will be the first occasion on which a large commercial aircraft has been assembled at Rongotai. Work on the new machine will commence this afternoon. The new monoplane is of the same model as the Lockheeds at present operating on the daily mail and passenger service between Wellington and Auckland, and will be Aamed either Kahu (hawk) or Kopara (bell-bird). In the past airliners for operation on New Zealand routes have been landed at Auckland and assembled at Hobsonville, where a fitting-out base for the Royal New Zealand Air Force is located. The Hauraki left Los An- i geles on July 21, and before calling at ] Wellington discharged cargo at Auckland. The hatch on which the Lockheed was carried as deck cargo was not required at the northern port, however, and when this became known Union Airways decided to have the monoplane landed at Wellington. With the exception of the outer wings, tail unit, airscrews, and other equipment, the machine was already practically assembled.

The assembling of the Lockheed will be done by_ Union Airways ground staff, and under the supervision of the company's chief engineer, Mr. L. Mangham, of Palmerston North. The work will be carried out in the company's portion of the main hangar at Rongotai, after which the machine will be tested by the company's pilots. It is anticipated that by the end of the week the latest addition to Union Airways' fleet of airliners will be flown to Palmerston North, where it will enter the regular mail and passenger services.

Powered by two Pratt and Whitney Wasp Junior engines, giving 400 h.p. each, and driving' Hamilton Standard controllable-pitch airscrews, the Lockheed Electra was the first commercial monoplane to be operated in New Zealand. The Lockheed is of all-metal construction, and is equipped also with retractable landing gear. The registration letters of the new machine are ZK-AGJ.