FLYING BOAT AOTEAROA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23894, 23 August 1939, Page 10

FLYING BOAT AOTEAROA

AUSTRALIAN SUGGESTION SURVEY OF POSSIBLE BASES (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) SYDNEY, Aug. 22. The Herald's aviation writer says: The aviation authorities in Sydney believe that the flying boat Aotearoa, which is new on her way from Southampton to Sydney and Auckland, could be more usefully employed on a survey of possible island bases throughout the Pacific than on the suggested trial flight between Auckland and America, a route already surveyed. REPORTED AMERICAN FLIGHT A LACK OF CONFIRMATION (Per United Press Association; AUCKLAND, Aug. 22. No official confirmation is given to the Press Association message from Sydney which implies that the Empire flying boat Aotearoa is likely to make a trial flight from Auckland to the United States. The Aotearoa is one of the three flying boats which are being brought to New Zealand specifically for the Tasman service to introduce commercial flying over this route. Several survey flights will be made after the Aotearoa's arrival at Auckland, but no information is available regarding the question of a Pacific exploratory flight. With over 8000 miles of her journey from Southampton covered, the Aotearoa is now at Singapore, where a two-day stop is being made to enable an engine check to be undertaken. The flying boat, which arrived at Singapore a day ahead of schedule, is expected to leave for Sourabaya to-morrow.