RETURN FLIGHT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22939, 18 January 1938, Page 6

RETURN FLIGHT

CENTAURUS WELCOMED DEMONSTRATION AT SYDNEY MINISTER WORKS ON JOURNEY [from our own corrf.spoxde.vt] SYDNEY, Jan. 14 . After appearing from an unexpected direction and gliding almost noiselessly to the water, the British flving-boat Centaurus was treated to a stirring demonstration from a crowd of 5000 on the completion of its return flight from New Zealand. At the landing, the commander, Captain J. W. Burgess, was mobbed, several womeli endeavouring to kiss him. While the crowd was looking toward the Heads shortly before 1 p.m. the flying-boat stole a march on them More silently than a Moth aeroplane, the sleek silver ship, flying loir, came within 200 feet of the moorings before it was seen. The Centaurus turned and ran gracefully to its moorings in a few minutes, and the spectators cheered at the spectacle of a white-clad figure suddenly bobbing up from a cockpit in the nose of the ship to secure the mooring. "There is no reason why the trip should not be made regularly twice a week, or even more frequently, if circumstances demand it," said Captain Burgess. "'With flying-boats of the Centaurus type, the Tasman crossing presents not the slightest hazard. Adequate radio installations will be needed on both sides of the Tasmafi%or directing aeroplanes." During the return flight the only passenger on the Centaurus, the Australian Minister of Customs, Mr. White, worked on details of the Austral ian-Xew Zealand trade treaty, 2000 feet above the Tasman. Mr. "White said:—

"I found the ship so steady and comfortable that I was able to work nl mv ease.

"As one who had to pilot early types of aeroplanes, I could not believe that I was in an aeroplane. I got through a lot of work. It is this matter-of-fact atmosphere which gives confidence in aviation. What was uppermost in mv mind as I crossed the Tasman was that the Empire Air Mail is going to brine us really close to New Zealand.''