FIRST AIR SERVICE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17409, 6 November 1930, Page 4

FIRST AIR SERVICE

TARANAKI ENTERPRISE CONNECTION WITH WELLINGTON (P«r ProiiH Association.) • WELLINGTON, last night. Tiie first regular aerial passenger service to be conducted in New Zealand has been opened between New Plymouth and Wellington by Taranaki Airways and, although the "tests and trial flights have been carried out for the past fortnight, the service was not definitely inaugurated until to-day hv the company’s pilot, .Sc|undroii-Leader (!. A. C. t'owper. who landed at Rongotai with a passenger. Two Desoutter machines are to he used and. in the meantime, one return trip a. week is planned. The service will lie extended as the traffic warrants. Extensive trials made recently have shown that the trip between Wellington

and New Plymouth can be made regularly in two hours, and the time-tables have been worked out on this basis. The first passenger trip was actually made a fortnight ago, but the service was opened to-day. The machines will take off from the Hell Block aerodrome at New Plymouthand the lfongotai aerodrome will be used in Wellington. Landings will he made at Hawera and Wanganui aerodromes and on a. field at Marton. Each machine carries two passengers and a pilot. The first passenger to'be carried on the inauguration of the regular service to-day was Mr. R. 11. Horner, solicitor, of Hawera.