EARLIER ARRIVAL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22316, 29 April 1947, Page 4

EARLIER ARRIVAL

VIKING AIRCRAFT VISIT TO GISBORNE As the Prime Minister, Mr. P. Fraser, has indicated his desire to proceed from Ohakea to Auckland on the afternoon of Thursday, May 1, on board the Vickers Viking aircraft male ing a goodwill tour of New Zealand, the machine’s Gisborne visit on that day will now be made earlier. Advice was received by the Gisborne Herald yesterday that instead of arriving at Darton Field at 1.20 p.m. on Thursday as originally scheduled, the aircraft will now arrive at 11.20 a.m. She will take aboard a number of prominent citizens, who have been invited by the company to make a flight in the aircraft, and will take off at 11.50 a.m on a local flight lasting an hour. During the hour’s flight the aircraft will probably proceed up the East Coast, flying low over as many townships as possible, in 01‘der to allow the residents to view one of the first of Britain’s postwar aircraft. Arriving back at Gisborne at 12.50 p.m., the aircraft will leave again for Ohakea at 1.20 p.m. The Viking was due at Whenuapai at 3 p.m. yesterday and was to fly to Paraparaumu this morning. On Thursday morning she will visit Napier before coming to Gisborne. The purpose of the flight is not only to show that Britain can make it, but that Britain is making it . The Viking is already in use in South Africa. South America, India and Denmark, and is competing in these spheres with the Dakota