NEW AEROPLANES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22741, 29 May 1937, Page 15

NEW AEROPLANES

FAST MODELS ARRIVE ASSEMBLY AT HOBSONVILLE AMERICAN ENGINEER ' SENT AUCKLAND-WELLINGTON LINK The fastest aeroplanes yet seen in New Zealand, two Lochheed Electras purchased by Union Airways, Limited, for the Auckland-Wellington air service, arrived from the United States yesterday by the Limerick. A passenger by the Limerick was Mr. D. E. Hixon, an engineer employed by the Lockheed Corporation, who will superintend the assembling of the machines at the Royal New Zealand Air Force Base at Hobsonville. Mr. Hixon was accompanied by his wife. Liberally smeared with thick grease to prevent corrosion, the two fuselages, complete with motors and the centre-sections of the wings, were carried as deck cargo on the Limerick. In spite of the fact that their brilliant silver and scarlet colours showed only dimly through the grease, the two machines presented a trim appearance. A small crowd of interested spectators admired particularly the graceful stream-lined shape of the fuselages, and the interior finish, an idea of which was gained by a glimpse through the cabin windows. Test Flight Plans Officials of Union Airways, including the manager, Mr. F. M. Clark, the chief ground engineer, Mr. L. Mangliam, and two of his assistant engineers, examined the machines after the Limerick had berthed yesterday afternoon. The two monoplanes will be unloaded this morning, and taken to Hobsonville on barges, for an early start to be made with the assembling. Test flights will be made in both machines as soon as they are ready for the air. They will be flown by Mr. Move W. Stephens, jun., a Lockheed test pilot, < who arrived from the United States recently, and later ho will take them to Palmerston North, where he will instruct Union Airways pilots in the use of various special equipment incorporated in the design of the two Lockheeds. Test flights will probably commence from Hobsonville about the middle of next week. An early announcement is expected in connection with the inauguration of the Auckland-Wellington service. A third Lockheed Electra is at present on the way to New Zealand on board the Waiotapu, which is due at Auckland on June 22. It will also be assembled at Hobsonville, and used in conjunction with the two sister-ships already in Zealand. They bear the registration letters ZK-AFC and ZK-AFD respectively. Travels of Engineer

Although he is making his first trip to New Zealand, Mr. Hixon passed through Auckland last year on .his way to -Australia, where he superintended the assembling of a Lockheed Electra for Guinea Airways. He said yesterday that good reports had been received of the machine in service. On his return from Australia, Mr. Hixon was sent first t<? Venezuela, and then to Canada, on similar assignments. He has thus been away from his home in the United States for about a year. The possibility of New Zealand" and the United States being linked shortly by an air line operated bv Pan-Ameri-can Airways was discussed by Mr. Hixon, who said that such a" move would be of great advantage to both parties. He mentioned that air travel was becoming increasingly popular in the United States, as was apparently the case in New Zealand, judging by the fact that he had been sent out with new machines for use in the Dominion.