TEST FLIGHT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23221, 19 June 1937, Page 18

TEST FLIGHT

WELLINGTON TO AUCKLAND MONOPLANE’S FINE PERFORMANCE (Per United Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 18. Circling easily over the city the Union Airways monoplane Kuaka attracted the attention of hundreds of Aucklanders at the conclusion of her first flight from Wellington this afternoon. The flying time for the distance of about 350 miles was 2hrs 16min. The journey, however, was spread over four hours and stops were made at Palmerston North and New Plymouth. Nine passengers were carried. The company’s chief pilot (Mr B. A. Blythe) was in command and with him as co-pilot was Mr C. M. Duthie.

High altitude flying made no difference to the comfort of the passengers in the electrically heated cabin. Ice pictures formed on the outside of the windows but the interior of the machine was kept comfortably warm and at the same time fresh by means of the special ventilating system. At a height of 10,000 feet between Palmerston North and New Plymouth the machine flew above a layer‘of heavy cloud, its shadow on the white vapour keeping pace. Visibility was exceptionally good and the passengers could see clearly the main divide of the South Island and the line of snow capped peaks was visible for hundreds of miles.

Crowds had gathered to welcome the machine at Bell Block aerodrome, New Plymouth. As a formality the motors were checked before taking off for Auckland and a starter fuse was replaced. A straight course was set to Mangere and the Lockheed was flown over the sea for some distance, making light of the miles and cruising in effortless style at an altitude of 7000 feet. The airspeed indicators showed nearly 200 miles an hour on the latter part of the flight. Similar speeds will probably be maintained to-morrow morning when the Kuaka will fly non-stop to Wellington with a party of guests of the company. The return flight to Mangere will take place in the afternoon, and the party of Aucklanders will have flown between 600 and 700 miles in about five hours.