GUEST FLIGHTS

Evening Star, Issue 22843, 29 December 1937, Page 13

GUEST FLIGHTS

OEITAURUS SHOWS HER POINTS LUXURIOUS AIR TRAVEL EFFORTLESS RESPONSE OF GIANT PLANE REVELATION TO SEASONED FLIERS [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, Dec. 28. The promise cf luxurious air travel given by a glimpse of the interior of the Imperial Airways Empire flying boat Centaurus was amply fulfilled to-day when parties of guests enjoyed short flights in the giant machine. Even to seasoned airmen, the experience of flying in the survey ship was a revelation, and the knowledge that the craft is British in every component gave a thrill of pride to the New Zealanders on board. The Vice-regal party, accompanied by Ministers of the Crown, officials of Pan-American Airways and Union Airways, and press representatives, was aloft for 20 minutes this morning. The second party, which comprised civic and harbour authorities, a number of leading New Zealand flyers and other guests, had a longer flight, being in the air for some 35 minutes and enjoying every second to the full. On board his ship, Captain Burgess conducts affairs with a quiet efficiency reminiscent of that of the navy. A courteous host and absolute master, he impressed visitors with his quiet air of command and also with his consideration for the comfort of the entire company. The lofty and spacious compartments of the Centaurus are amazingly sound proof. The big motors came to life at a touch of the starters and purred like giant cats. Slowly the ship was headed along her runway and, in response to a hand on the throttles, the propellers bit into the air, disappearing into silver arcs. Even then, with the motors at their maximum, there was scarcely any noise. Well have these ,big engines been named after Pegasus, the winged horse of mythology. The shining surface of the harbour slipped away astern and the passengers’ first knowledge that they were in the air was the sudden disappearance of the creamy foam that had splashed the hull during the take-off. Over Mission Bay in a gentle climbing turn and back above the city at a bare thousand feet, the big ship sailed lazily, the motors throttled back to a docile murmur, but none the less holding the Centaurus in her climb. Babel broke out among the passengers enjoying their first flight. Eagerly they compared reactions, argued over foreshortened landmarks and ventured an occasional careless reference to altitude and speed. Airline pilots and instructors, amused in spite of their familiarity with the ways of first-flight passengers, willingly supplied the information so eagerly sought and at the same time expressed with the traditional terseness of the flyer their admiration and amazement at the performance of the ship. Over Hobsonville, at 1500 feet, a few mild bumps were felt and Captain Burgess’s desire to make the flight as comfortable as possible for his passengers was immediately apparently. He walked through the ship and announced to each traveller that he was about to climb above the clouds “ where there should be fewer bumps and more comfortable travelling.” The nose of the silver ship was lifted and poked inquiringly into a soft, white layer of cloud. There was little thickness to it and, in a moment, the Centaurus was on top, floating above the piled cotton wool Of the cloud layer. Appearing from nowhere, the Auckland Aero Club’s Beechcraft, with Mr K. B. Robinson at the controls, and photographers on board came alongside. Signals were ' exchanged between the passengers and those on board the Centaurus so close did the little machine fly and cameras were levelled time and time again. The west coast unrolled steadily below. From 6000 feet. Kaipara was a silver harbour and the beaches at. Piha, Kare Kare, and Vhatipu could be clearly distinguished. In the Waitakares, the Nihotupu dam was visible by reason of the pale green of the water against the darker green of the bush. Banking in a wide circle, the Centaurus was headed back towards Auckland. Gradually she lost height and the city buildings assumed normal proportions. The speed was apparent now, and the great flying boat passed over the heart of the city in a flash. A subdued humming announced the switching on of the wing-flap motor o bring down the landing speed, -nd the harbour, opening out from the size of a toy sea to its full dimensions, seemed to come gliding upward. The swish of water against the rounded hull, the unexpected silence of the motors and a few spashes over the windows aft announced the landing. For a distance the Centaurus planed along on her step, still in flying position, and the thrill of speed-boating was added to that of aviation. Gradually the water claimed the hull, and once off the step, the ship lost way rapidly. The travellers left their comfortable seats, produced cigarettes and pipes ready for a smoke as soon as they were ashore and waited fo r the launch. Little was said and the appreciation of each guest was more eloquently expressed by his silence and by the longing glance backward as he left the ship. At the foot of the ladder leading to the control cabin was Captain Burgess. Smilingly, he acknowledged the thanks of his guests and, as the last stepped aboard the waiting tender,_ he turned back to explain technicalities to an eager party of aviators from all parts of New Zealand.

“MEN OF THE AGE’’ TRIBUTE FROM PRIME MINISTER DEVELOPING INTERNATIONAL GOODWILL JPer United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, Dec. 28. “ During the last two days we have had the privilege of entertaining in our own modest fashion some of the men of the age,” said the Prime Minister (Mr Savage) in proposing the health of Captain Burgess and the crew of the Centaurus at the Government dinner tendered to them this evening. Captain Musick and the members of the crew of the Pan-American Clipper were also present, and the guests included Major A. F. Purvis, representing the Governor-General, Ministers of the Crown, members of Parliament, heads of the services, and representatives of civic and commercial interests. The Prime Minister referred to the development of commercial aviation as one of the wonders of modem civilisation, but stated that Governments in all parts of the world had a duty to develop the flights of science' and mechanical invention in the interests of the people and not as instruments of destruction. The presence on the Waitemata of the Centaurus and the Samoan Clipper showed how the great American nation and the British Commonwealth of Nations could co-operate in harnessing progress in aviation to the cause of international commercial relationships and friendship. “Airmen like Captain Burgess and his crew are playing a great part in the development of civilisation,” Mr Savage said, “and it is up to the representatives of the people to see that proper use is made of the advantages which they place at our disposal. I can assure you that New Zealand will not lag behind in this respect.” Captain Burgess expressed gratitude on behalf of the crew and himself for the warmth of the welcome extended to them. Theirs was purely a goodwill flight, he said, but, although he could not speak for the policy of the company, he personally hoped that before long much larger flying boats would be coming to New Zealand via Australia and returning to England via Canada, “so that we will have the whole Empire linked by air. To me this homecoming has been the experience of a lifetime.” Captain Burgess added that Great Britain was making amazing progress in the field of commercial aviation. There was proof that she led the world in the construction of flying boats, her military aircraft were unparalleled, and he was sure it would not be long before her land aeroplanes for commercial purposes were developed to the same high standard. SOUTHERN SCHEDULE AT DUNEDIN ON TUESDAY RETURNING NORTH FOLLOWING DAY (Per United Press Association) . AUCKLAND, Dec. 28. On the southern cruise, flights will be made at Wellington, Lyttelton and Dunedin. The Centaurus will fly over as many towns as possible in order to give New Zealanders a view of the giant flying boat in the air. The Centaurus will leave Auckland on Friday at 7 a.m. for Wellington, and if the weather is favourable on the west coast it will pass over New Plymouth, Hawera, Stratford, Wanganui, Palmerston North, arriving at Wellington at 10 a.m. She will cruise at a speed of 135 miles an hour. The flying boat will leave Wellington at 7 a.m. on January 3 for Lyttelton, via the Marlborough Sounds, Nelson and Blenheim, arriving at Lyttelton at 10.30 a.m. She will leave the following morning at 7.30 for Dunedin, flying over the coastal towns. She will leave Dunedin on January 5 for Wellington, going on the same afternoon to Auckland. En route she will probably circle Hastings, Napier, Gisborne and Tauranga. The Centaurus will leave Auckland for Sydney on the morning of January 10. DISTINGUISHED ASSEMBLAGE HARBOUR BOARD LUNCHEON AUCKLAND, Dec. 28. Although the luncheon given by the Auckland Harbour Board to-day was in honour of Captain Burgess and the crew of the Centaurus, the men from the Samoan Clipper of the Pan-American Airways were not overlooked. Captain Musick and the members of his crew, in addition to Mr Harold Gatty,.were all guests at the function. Among the other guests were Major A. E. Purvis, representing the Governor-General (Viscount Galway), the Minister of Marine (Mr P. Fraser), the Attorney-general (Mr H. G. R. Mason), the Minister of Agriculture (Mr W. Lee Martin), Rear-admiral the Hon. E. R. Drummond, the Mayor (Sir Ernest Davis), Group-captain T. M. Wilkes, Controller of Civil Aviation, Flightlieutenant Lester, officer commanding the Hobsonville air base, Mr N, S. Falla, chairman of Union Airways, and also chairman and managing director of the Union Steam Ship Company, and Mr F. Maurice Clarke, general manager of Union Airways. Both Captain Burgess, sen., father of the commander of the Centaurus, and Captain D. Burgess, an older brother, were present, and the guests also included representatives of the shipping and commercial interests in the city.