USE DEBARRED

Evening Star, Issue 22087, 22 July 1935, Page 10

USE DEBARRED

BOEING MACHINES ARRIVE IMPRESS AS THOROUGHLY AIRWORTHY “ Set fire to them,” was the reply of Mr H. M. Mackay, manager of New Zealand Airways Ltd., when asked this morning by a reporter what he intended to do with the two Boeing aeroplanes which have been refused a license by the Transport Co-ordination Board to operate the services between Whangarei and Gisborne, Auckland and Wellington, and Christchurch and Dunedin. And were that threat carried into commission, 75,000 dollars worth, or more than £15,000, would go up in smoke. The price of each machine in America is 35,000 dollars. The cases containing the Boeings are the largest, ever landed in Dunedin, measuring in length 83ft, in • breadth lift fiin, and in depth Bft. _ Empty, each weighs two tons,. and with their much-discussed contents, four and ahalf tons. In the meantime, the cases are being kept for use again. Although the Controller of Civil Aviation has expressed his dislike, of this type of machine -one of which was towed from New. Zealand Arways, premises this morning to the Taieri aerodrome for test flights, to the layman they are fine machines. Sturdily built and sum in appearance, they impress as absolutely airworthy; in fact, up to 1934 Boeings travelled a distance ,of 100,000,000 miles in America, including 10,000,000 miles of night flying, without any structural failures. Botli machines’ body works are painted azure blue, with yellow wings. The engines develop 535 h.p., and will carry a useful load of 2,3911 b, including 5501 b freight weight. The Boeing has a very compact, hut comfortable, seating space for four passengers. The overall dimensions of the machines ■ are Length, 33ft 4 7-16 m; height, lift Shin; wing span, 44ft 2Jin. The petrol consumption averages 22 gallons per hour. The aeroplanes are equipped with powerful landing lights attached to the wings. T , When asked if he would take legal proceeding against the Transport Coordination in an effort to upset its decision, Mr Mackay refused to make any statement in the meantime, remarking that the hoard was in a position. to make things very difficult ior his 'company. No difficulty in being granted a license by the New Zealancl Civil Aviation Department was,anticipated. The real problem lay with the board. The planes have been granted Canadian certificates of airworthiness, and these have to be endorsed* by the Director of Civil Aviation. One of the objections to allowing the company to run air services was based on the machines’ disability of ■ conversion for defence purposes, said Mr Mackay. ‘ ‘ The two Boeings have all the appliances for their use in that respect,” he said. Regarding the other three machines purchased by New Zealand Airways, they had been fully paid for and it was just a question now of freight charges to bring them to Dunedin. As yet, no decision had been reached about them. Six months' after selecting the five aeroplanes, it was announced that the Transport Aircraft Services Act was being rushed through Parliament, Mr Mackay said, and it was decided to delay the shipments to see how the Act would affect the company’s position. He was very disappointed that the application for operating a service had been set aside, although two newcomers had succeeded in obtaining licenses. His company’s application was not finally dealt with until July 14; the machines’ despatch to New Zealand ha.d therefore been delayed for 14 months.