AIR LINK-UP

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 10 March 1944, Page 4

AIR LINK-UP

THREE DAYS TO BRITAIN

POST-WAR SERVICE EXPRESS PASSENGER PLANES Auckland. March 9 The linking of England with New Zealand by express passenger aircraft taking three days or less on the journey was visualised as a postwar possibility by Viscount Knollys, chairman of the British Overseas Airways Corporation, who arrived at Auckland from Sydney by Tasman Empire Airways’ flying-boat yesterday. Accompanied by Mr A. C. CampbellOrde, a technical expert who acts as permanent assistant to the chairman of the corporation, Lord Knollys was met by the Air Secretary, Mr T. A. Baxrow, and the chairman of directors of Tasman Empire Airways, Mr N. S. Falla. Lord Knollys said that plans and specifications for the types of transport aircraft capable of such rapid flights were already prepared and certain machines were in production. A cruising speed of between 230 and 240 miles an hour was planned, but it would be necessary for day and night flying to accomplish the journey in such a brief period. Sleeping accommodation for about 12 passengers could be provided. The high cost of operating fast aircraft was still a problem facing th« aeroplane industry, Lord Knollys said. For that reason he believed that, even with the introduction of express machines, there would still be a place for an intermediate service taking, on such a route as that between England and New Zealand, five or six days. This would entail overnight stops being made along the route. POST-W AR AIRCRAFT Lord Knollys said he had every confidence that the British post-war aircraft would be of the highest quality. There could be no doubt about this, as the machines would be built by the same people who built those which had carried the war into Germany. Although he was not prepared to elaborate the point. Lord Knollys said that “one day in the future, and not immediately, we have great hopes of what jet propulsion can do,” For certain purposes this new development seemed to be very promising. During his present tour Lord Knollys is discussing various problems of immediate and post-war importance. In view of post-war developments it was naturally of advantage to see things on the spot, he said. While proolems in this part of the world were the primary affair of the countries concerned, his corporation was interest*/ and wished to help if possible. INTERNATIONAL routes Declining to discuss questions dealing with the ownership and control of international routes after the war, Lord Knollys said that was a matter for Governments. A valuable and interesting contribution to these discussions had been made through the recent Aus-tralia-New Zealand pact. As to the operation of air lines by enemy countries after the war, he thought it likely that they would be barred from the international field for a considerable time. Lord Knollys said he wished to correct statements attributed to him in recent messages from Australia concerning the method of control of civil aviation within countries. He had not said that post-war aviation services should not be owned by Governments, for he felt that, according to the circumstances, successful operation might be achieved through entirely Government or private control or through a combination of both.

Mr Campbell-Orde served in the last war aud was awarded the Air Force Cross. For a period after the war he was a test-pilot, and before being appointed assistant to the chairman of British Overseas Airways Corporation he was the corporation’s director of operations.