NEW ’PLANE ARRIVES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 157, 4 June 1937, Page 12

NEW ’PLANE ARRIVES

LOCKHEED AT MILSON. Within an hour and a-half of leaving Auckland, the first of the new Lockheed Electra monoplanes to be used in the Wellington-Auckland air service was flying over Palmerston North yesterday. It made a beautiful picture with the early afternoon sun showing up its graceful lines to perfection, and as it circled the city hundreds of interested eyes were turned skywards. The Lockheed went down for her landing at Milson at about 65 miles an hour and came to a stop after a comparatively short taxi-ing run. Naturally it excited the attention of the staff at the aerodrome, who inspected the ’plane with particular interest. It is only the second machine seen at Milson with a retractable undercarriage, the first being the Klemm Eagle flown by the late Mr W. O’Hara who, it will be remembered, was later killed in Australia 'while making his return flight to the East. There are many other features in the new machine which are new to Milson. The Lockheed-Eleetras are the fastest machines yet brought to New Zealand, having a cruising speed of 180 miles per hour, with a maximum of 205. There is passenger accommodation for ten people and provision for two officers. A third machine of the type is expected at Auckland on June 22, nnd will also be flown to Palmerston North as soon as it has been tested at Auckland.

Mr Moye W. Stephens, junr., the American pilot who was sent to New Zealand to make the test flights, was at the controls yesterday. “We had a great trip down, but there is really nothing to say about it,” he said. The reliance placed by Mr Stephens and his company on the airworthiness and efficiency of the machines is shown by the fact that the flight was undertaken following only one test flight at Auckland yesterday morning, when the instruments, wing flaps, landing gear, etc., were tested. Mr Stephens emphasised that this was possible because of the thorough examination of every part before it left the production works. The engineers had been able to assemble the ’plane with a minimum of delay. , The pilot kept the machine at an altitude of about 8000 feet during most of the flight. They took a course via Egmont, but did not touch down at New Plmouth. No attempt was made to test the new Lockheed for speed, the trip being made as an ordinary cruise. “I am delighted with its performance,” said Mr F. 'Maurice Clarke, manager for Union Airways, who, after visiting Auckland during the assembling of the new machines and to transact business in connection with the inauguration of the new service returned with Mr Stephens yesterday. Others who made the trip were Mr W. H. Hindle, Flying-Officer Ti. A. Blythe, chief pilot for Union Airways, and Mr L. Mangham, chief ground engineer. Mr Stephens returned to Auckland by train last night, and will fly the second Lockheed to Milson as soon as it is ready; probably to-morrow morning. RADIO EQUIPMENT. INSTALLATION AT MILSON. Considerable activity is at present evident at Milson where the new radio station is being erected for the Post and Telegraph Department. It is hoped to commence the installation of the new equipment next week and to have it ready for use when the AueldandWellington service is inaugurated. When the installations are complete, the present radio office in the administration block will be superseded. The building now in course of erection will be used temporarily for both transmitting and receiving, but as soon as possible a .receiving station will be built at some distance from the aerodrome t opx-event interference with the delicate receiving apparatus. Two 60ft wooden poles are now ready for erection, one on either side of the new radio building.. Each consists of two poles spliced and bound together to afford greater height. They will: serve as temporary aerial masts pending tho erection of two steel lattice towers which will he 75 feet high. All four masts will then bo retained and used ..for radio purposes. A cable is being laid from the administration

offices to the new building. Power for the equipment will be fed by underground line from the existing overland poles. The earthing of the transmitting station is a formidable undertaking, as a system of earth wires at every ten degrees around the but, radiating star-fashion, has been adopted. A mile of copper is to bo used.