ACROSS THE TASMAN BY AIR.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 4487, 1 October 1940, Page 2

ACROSS THE TASMAN BY AIR.

Mr Jock Edgar, who recently returned from a hoi Ida v in Australia, gave a representative of the_ Mail an interesting account of his trip across the Tasman Sea on August 23rd last in the flying boat 11 MA, “Aotearoa ” in command of Capt. J. W. BurgessLeaving Auckland by the clipper at 610 p.m. in perfect weather, said Jock, we travelled at about 600 ft. above the sea. which looked like a decent dive from the plane. After about two hours it became cloudy and we shot up to 6,000 ft, and then, passing through big white clouds, where we encountered rain for _ about ten minutes, we came out into bright sunshine. We then passed by a bank of other clouds which proved very interesting and gave us an idea of the speed we were at After a short while we again dived down to about 600 ft, This “swooping” down lends to some excitement (for one has a feeling that the engines may refuse to function. However, one gains confidence as you proceed Although we were keeping a constant locikS out for the German raider and anv sign or indication of the Turakina which was reported sunk at the time, we did not see anv shipping until we got close to Sydney. It was wonderful to see land again after nearly ten hours in the air. The accomodation and meats which are served in the clipper are astonishinglv good. The luncheon, menu was as follows: Cream of Tomato, salman mayonnaise, cold buffet, roast chicken, country ham. lamb cutlets luncheon sausage, salads, assorted pickles and sauces, jellied pears and whipped cream, cheese biscuits, fruit and coffee. Bugs and mocassins are provided but were not used very much and anyone who did not feel up to the mark had their berth to go to. The whole trip was a most wonderful experience and all were a,greed that air transport was by far the easiest. Quickest and best way of travel. When the fares become more reasonable —the single fare across, is £3l-10s —a great fillip wild be given to the tourist trade not to mention the advantages in a commercial sense. Our actual travelling time was 9hrs. 50 minutes and the record is Bhrs 10 minutes. 1 The disembarking in Sydney after flying around enough to get a wonderful view, was a real thrill, “On Landing.” said Mr Edgar, “it was surprising to us to learn that Sydney knew nothing of the raider _in the Tasman, although the Turakina encountered it four days previously.”