MINISTER TO FLY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23512, 24 November 1939, Page 9

MINISTER TO FLY

TBI? IN AOTEAROA AERODROME INSPECTION .VISIT TO HOBSONVILLE FLYING-BOAT'S OVERHAUL The Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. .Tones, will have liis first flight in Tasman Empire Airways' fl.ving-hoat Aotearoa this morning. In the course of a routine training flight, the Aotearoa, under Captain J. W. Burgess, will give the Minister an opportunity of seeing the Royal New Zealand Air Force Base at Hobsonville, and the new station under construction at Whenuapai. from the air. Accompanied by his secretary. Mr. F. M. Sherwood, and Flight-Lieutenant «T. M. Buckeridge, of the Civil Aviation Department, Mr. Jones will embark on the Aotearoa at the Tasman Empire Airways base at nine o'clock this morning. Plans lor Next Week The machine will be flown to Hobsonville and after circling to enable the Minister to examine both stations from the air, it will alight on the upper harbour near the Hobsonville jetty. The Minister and his party will then go ashore to make a more detailed inspection. While the Aotearoa is at Hobsonville the opportunity will bo taken of studying the hauling-out area which will be used when the machine is taken ashore next week for the cleaning of the hull and floats, and for general inspection. Tentative arrangements have been made for the machine to he flown to Hobsonville next Wednesday, . and taken from the water for inspection for tho first time since she arrived in New Zealand. Hauling Craft lrom Water The massive under-carriage, comprising a frame with two large wheels to support the hull and a smaller wheel to go under the tail, will precede the Aotearoa to Hobsonville, being taken there on a barge. When the flyingboat arrives the cradle will be set in position and fixed to the craft, which will then be drawn from-the water by means of a special winch. The new hangar intended for use on sucli occasions is almost comx>leted, at the top of the Hobsonville slipway. The hull and floats will bo thoroughly cleaned, and coated with a special preparation to keep them in good condition. This will take the greater part of a day, after which the Aotearoa will return to her base, ready for further training flights.