LONG TRIP BY AIR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21345, 21 November 1932, Page 11

LONG TRIP BY AIR

BUSINESS MEN'S TOUR

BOTH ISLANDS VISITED

FLIGHT DEVOID OF INCIDENT

A distance of approximately 2000 miles by air, involving visits to 15 towns in both the North and South Islands, was covered by Mr. R. E. B. Worth, of Stourport, England, Mr. H. T. Merritt and Captain J D. Hewett, of Auckland, who landed at Mangere aerodrome on Saturday afternoon after a business trip of ten days. The party used the Auckland Aero Club's Puss Moth, a threeseater cabin monoplane, and Captain Hewett was engaged as pilot. "The trip was devoid of incident, weather conditions being fair and the machine functioning perfectly throughout," Captain Ilewett said last evening. The monoplane behaved as well as a good motor-car, there being an entire absence of mechanical trouble. Beyond replenishing the petrol and oil supplies, the machine required no attention throughout the trip, and, although an inspection of the engine was made at Dunedin, no adjustments were necessary.

Captain Hewett added that occasional spells of wet or foggy weather in no way impeded the progress of the party. Low clouds were encountered during one crossing of Cook Strait, making it necessary to fly fairly low, and there was some care necessary in taking off from Rongotai aerodrome, Wellington, in a northerly wind. On this occasion 1 lie machine was fairly heavily laden, with three passengers, a quantity of luggage, and full petrol-tanks, but the take-ofl was accomplished without mishap. The trip was undertaken by air to enable Mr. Worth and Mr. Merritt to visit the most important centres in both North and South Islands in the shortest possible time. Although they covered some 2000 miles, only 19 hours 35 minutes of the ten days away were occupied in travelling, leaving considerable time for business in each town visited. The Puss Moth cruised at an average of approximately 100 miles an hour, and on some days calls were made at three or more towns. The monoplane took off from Mangere at 7.40 a.m. on November 9, and flew to .New Plymouth, Hawera and Wanganui, where the night was spent. On November 10 the party reached Wellington after calling at Palrnerston North, and on November 13 the trip was continued to Timaru and Dunedin. Invercargill, Tima.ru and Christchurch were visited last Tuesday, while on Thursday the party landed at Wellington on the trip northward.

The return flight to Auckland was commenced on Friday, when calls were made at Masterton, Dannevirke and Napier, and on Saturday the monoplane covered the distance from Napier to Mangere, via Hastings, in exactly three hours. It was originally planned to spend a fortnight over the trip, but alterations made to the schedule enabled the party to return to Auckland four days earlier than had been expected. A tribute was paid by Captain Hewett to the courtesy of the Vacuum Oil Company Proprietary, Limited, in arranging transport for the party at each aerodrome visited.