FLYING CANCELLED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21977, 22 March 1946, Page 4

FLYING CANCELLED

METEOR JET-PLANE

SHOCK-ABSORBER DEFECT (P.A.) AUCKLAND, March 22. A minor shock in the shock-absorber part of the landing gear of th'e GlosterMeteor jet-plane resulted in the necessity for the aircraft being declared unserviceable after completing the first part of its scheduled flight in North Auckland yesterday, As a result, it was necessary to cancel further flying. The replacement of a small part, an essential rubber ring, is necessary before the aircraft can be flown again and every effort is being made to secure a suitable spare part. It was stated, however, that the flights planned had merely been postponed. Flown by Squadron-Leader McKay, the Meteor left Ardmore at 10 o’clock yesterday morning and landed at Waipapakauri, where it drew a surprisingly large crowd. The visitors took a keen interest in the jet plane, which is totally unlike any aircraft seen in the area previously.

After passing over the towns included in the morning’s itinerary the Meteor returned to Auckland, breaking cloud over Mission Bay at 1 o'clock and landing at Ardmore five minutes later. It was then that an examination showed that the defective shock absorber. which had previously been noted as deteriorating, was unfit lor further use until the part had been replaced.