LONG BUSINESS FLIGHT

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 36, 26 January 1932, Page 6

LONG BUSINESS FLIGHT

TRIP ROUND NORTH ISLAND. NEARLY A WEEK SAVED. What is believed to be the first business trip round the North Island by air has been completed by Messrs E. R. Boucher and S. J. Robinson, of Auckland. The machine, piloted by Mr. Boucher, left the aerodrome at Mangere at-3.50 p.m. last Monday and arrived at New Plymouth two and ahalf hours later. Business was transacted at New Plymouth on Tuesday morning and the aeroplane left at 12.40 p.m. for Wanganui. where it arrived 1 hour 25 minutes later. More business was transacted and a departure was made for Palmerston North at 6.30 p.m., the journey taking 45 minutes. On Wednesday morning several business calls were made and the airmen left at 2.30 p.m. for Masterton, arriving at 3.5 p.m. After completing business at Masterton a flight of 45 minutes was made to Dannevirke. where more business appointments were kept, another flight of 45 minutes taking the travellers to Hastings. Business was transacted in Hastings and Napier, the night being spent in the latter town. At 3.35 p.m. on Thursday ths machine took off for Wairoa, which was reached in 40 minutes. Another 40 minutes saw the airmen at Gisborne, where the evening and the whole of Friday were spent. At 5.30 a.in. on Saturday the return flight to Auckland was commenced, the machine arriving 2 hours 50 minutes later. The actual travelling time for the whole journey was 16 hours 55 minutes. The cost was less than it would have been had the journey been made by car, said Mr. Boucher. There was also a saving of from four to six days in time and the attendant hotel and other expenses. A wonderful sight was witnessed between Masterton and Dannevirke, when from a height of 5060 ft. the east and west coasts of the island were both visible.