RETURN TO N.Z.

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22624, 29 April 1948, Page 6

RETURN TO N.Z.

FLYING-BOAT TESTED ENGINE MODIFICATIONS (P.A ' AUCKLAND, April 29. The flying-boat New Zealand of Tasman Airways returned from Australia yesterday afternoon after a series of tests at Sydney and Melbourne conducted by the Royal Australian Air Force. The aircraft was flown to Australia on April 8 in accordance with a ruling by the Minister of Civil Aviation. Mr. F. Jones, that she must have further tests there before her certificate of airworthiness would he returned. All four of the company’s planes were grounded on February 23 for engine modifications following overliPhtin" in r n rtn>n conditions of flight. Tlip company's operations irrna.Gd’, Captain K A. Brnwnjohn. who returned with the New Zealand, said the physical test in" of the aircraft had now been completed and the n°c°ssary calculations' to relate her recorded performance to tropical standards were bein" made in Australia. The results would be reported to the New Zealand Civil Aviat : on Branch and Tasman Airways would then await the branch’s decision concerning the return of the certificates of airworthiness to enable passenger flvjng to be resumed. Captain Browniobn said the New Zealand had firr-t flown to Sydney where she had been weighed and had then continued to Melbourne for actual tests. The aircraft was flown on test by her New Zeaiand crew accompanied by three or four technician? of the Royal Australian Air Force. She also carried Mr. S. G- Marshall. senior flisht test technician of Short Erothe'-s and Harlaod, makers of the aircraft, and Mr. E. .T, Crowson. technical officer of the British Overseas Airways Co'*noration. during the tests. * * Representatives of the New Zealand Civil Aviat’on Branch had a’so been in Australia and had returned with the aireraft. The tests were made at an al 1 -up weight of 60.0001 b, he continued. Flying was done on four and laMr on three engines, and'at the end of the tests in Melbourne the aircraft had returned to Sydnev where she had done further flying. The return flight to Auckland was without incident.