NEW AIR LINER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23117, 16 August 1938, Page 11

NEW AIR LINER

AEEIVAL NEXT WEEK ASSEMBLY AT WELLINGTON USE IN REGULAR SERVICES [BY TELEGRAPH PKESS ASSOCIATION*] WELLINGTON, Monday The first of two new Lockheed Efectra monoplanes ordered by Union Airways of New Zealand, Limited, is to be assembled at Rongotai aerodrome. It will be towed to the aerodrome after being landed at Wellington from the Union Company's motor-ship Hnuraki, due on August 22 from Los Angeles, via Auckland. This will be the first occasion on which a large commercial aircraft has been assembled at Rongotai. The new monoplanes are of the same model as the Lockheeds at present operating on the daily mail and passenger service between Wellington and Auckland. It is not yet known when the second machine will arrive. In all probability tflis machine will also be assembled at Rongotai. Previous air liners for operation on New Zealand- routes have been landed at Auckland and assembled* at Hobsonville, where a fitting-out base for the Royal New Zealand Air Force is located. Aircraft of smaller types, principally for aero club work, have been assembled and tested at Rongotai and also at Wigram. The Wellington Aero Club's Waco cabin machine, the first of its type to be introduced into New Zealand for use as a passenger and ambulance aeroplane, was fitted out at Rongotai, and so far this type of aircraft is the largest to be assembled at Wellington. The Hauraki left Los Angeles on July 21 and before calling at Wellington will discharge cargo at Auckland. The hatch on which the Lockheed is being carried as d^' c k cargo will not be required at Auckland, however,,and when this became known Union Airways decided to have the monoplane landed at Wellington. With the exception of the outer wings, the empennage, airscrews and other equipment, the machine is already practically assembled.

The assembling of the Lockheed will be carried out by Union Airways' ground staff under the supervision of the company's chief engineer, Mr. L. Mangham, after which the machine will be tested by the company's pilots, it is anticipated that within 10 days of delivery' at Wellington the liner will be flown to Palmerston North, where it will enter the regular mail and passenger services.