Radar Equipment For Tasman Flying-boats

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 June 1950, Page 4

Radar Equipment For Tasman Flying-boats

AUCKLAND, This Day (P.A.).— A radar set is being installed in each of the four Tasman Empire Airways Solent Au?kon the night service from Sydney to Auck land, which reopens on July 1. Known as Rebecca—a legacy of wai-time aviation jargon—the radar eye will guide the plane home and help set if down on the ha - hour. This equipment is the first of the typ to be installed in New Zealand aircraft. Rebecca has the advantage over most radar gem that it is light and compart. whereas manv other types, because ot weight and bulk, are not suM to commercial planes, speCi Ms"tely at any altitude. The radio officer can falculate the flying-boats bearing from contact with land-based re sponder beacons at Whenuapai (Auckland), Rose Bay (Sydney), Fiji and the. Austialian Air Force establishment at Rathmmes, on the coast north of Sydney. Tasman Airways is also fitting to the Solents de-icing equipment and high and low level radar altimeters as a navigation aid ana to inform the pilot of the terrain belowhim when making landing approaches. With these three additions, Tasman Airways will have greater precisions in operations and maintain its faultless record of flying safety.