NEW AEROPLANES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23054, 3 December 1936, Page 10

NEW AEROPLANES

UNION AIRWAYS LIMITED 1 IMPORTATION FROM AMERICA GOVERNMENT GRANTS PERMISSION An announcement was made yesterday by the Minister of Defence : Mr F. Jones, that permission had been granted to Union Airways, Ltd to import three aeroplanes from America for service in New Zealand.

“A request to be given authority to import three Lockheed Electro aircraft from the United States for service in New Zealand was recently received from Union Airways. Ltd., and considered by the Cabinet,” Mr Jones said. “The Government has agreed to the application subject to the United States authorities guaran teeing that the machines will comply with the British requirements for airworthiness. Under this arrangement it will be necessary fot the United States authorities, when issuing a certificate for export, to stipulate that the aircraft will conform with the necessary requirements,”

It was explained by the Minister that in terms of a reciprocal agreement between Britain and the Unit ed States provision is made for a guarantee declaring that all machines purchased for service in England will comply with the British requirements in regard to airworthiness. The New Zealand Government, in making this stipulation a condition of the contract, was following the practice adopted by the Old Country. The Lockheed Electra aeroplane is an all-metal machine of a very up-to-date type, and is widely used in commercial services in the United States. It is understood that an English aviation company recently purchased several of these machines for its commercial services, while one aircraft of this type, destined for New Guinea Airways, recently passed through the Dominion on board the Hauraki. FINE TYPE OF MACHINE RECORD OF SAFE FLYING DESTINED FOR AUCKLANDWELLINGTON SERVICE (Per United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 2. The Minister of Public Works (Mr Semple) announced to-day that he had sanctioned the use by Union Airways of the three new aeroplanes on the projected new service between Wellington and Auckland, via Palmerston North and New Plymouth. for which a licence had recently been issued. “ The aeroplanes ordered are allmetal machines with twin engines, and a top speed of approximately 200 miles an hour,” said Mr Semple. “ They will carry 10 passengers and two pilots, and have liberal Provision for luggage and freight. They have retractable under-carnages. The equipment will include all the latest safety instruments and a twoway wireless telegraoh.” The Minister said the machines were of the same type as those used by Guinea Airways on the service between Queensland and New Guinea, and had millions of miles of safe flying throughout the world to their credit. Commending the enterprise of Union Airways, the Minister said they were introducing to New Zealand a machine that had a marvellous record for safe flying. Referring to the Rongotai Aerodrome, the Minister said he was prepared to do the most he possibly could to help the Wellington City Council by way of a subsidy to make this landing field as safe and useful as possible. The machine referred to by Mr Semple is the Lockheed Electra model 10A commercial monoplane. It is fitted with two 440-horse power engines. The main cabin, with seats for 10 persons, is 15 feet long, 58 inches wide, and 60 inches high. The machine has a span of 55 feet, a length of 38 feet 7 inches, and a height of 10 feet 1 inch.