LUXURY FLYING

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19519, 29 December 1937, Page 2

LUXURY FLYING

TRIPS IN CENTAURUS GUESTS AT AUCKLAND .1 PRIDE IN BRITISH CRAFT SPEED AND COMFORT (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, last night. The promts^luxurious air travel given by a glimpse o£ the interior o£ the Imperial Empire flyingboat Centaurus was amply fulfilled to-day when parties of guests enjoyed short flights in the giant machine. Even to seasoned airmen the experience of-flying in the survey ship was a revelation and the knowledge that the craft is British in every component ■ gave a thrill of pride to the New Zealanders aboard. The vice-Regal party, accompanied by the Ministers of the Crown, officials of Pan-American Airways and Union Airways, and press representatives were aloft for 20 minutes this morning. The second party, which prised civic and harbour authorities* a number of leading New Zealand flyers and other guests had a longer flight, being .in the air some 35 minutes and enjoying every second to the full. Aboard his ship, Captain J. W. Burgess conducts affairs with quiet efficiency, reminiscent of that of the navy. A courteous host and an absolute master, he impressed visitors With his quifct air of command, and also with his consideration for the comfort of the entire company. The lofty and spacious compartments aboard the Centaurus are amazingly sound-proof. The big motors came to life at the touch of the starters and purred like giant cats. Slowly the ship was headed along the runway, and in response to a hand on the throttles, the propellers bit into the air, disappearing into silver arcs. Scarcely Any Noise Even then, with the motors at their maximum, there was scarcely any noise. Well have these big engines been named Pegasus, winged horse of mythology. The shining surface of the harbour slipped away astern and the passengers’ first knowledge that they were in the air was the sudden disappearance of the creamy foam that had splashed the hull during the take-off. Over Mission Bay in a gentle climbing turn and back above the city at a bare 1000 ft. the big ship sailed lazily, the motors throttled back to a docile murmur, but none the less holding the Centaurus in her climb. Babel broke out among the passengers, enjoying their first flight. Eagerly they compared their reactions, argued over the fore-shortened landmarks, and ventured an occasional careless reference to the altitude and the speed. Airline pilots and instructors, amused in spite of their familiarity with the ways of first-flight passengers, willingly supplied information so eagerly sought, and at the same time expressed themselves with the traditional terseness of the flyer.

Over Hobsonville at 1500 ft. a fc\V mild bumps were felt. Captain Burgess’ desire to make the flight as comfortable as possible for his passengers was immediately apparent: He walked through the ship and announced to each traveller that he was about to climb above the clouds where there should be fewer bumps and more comfortable travelling. The nose of the silver, ship was lifted, and poked inquiringly into a soft white layer of cloud. There was little thickness to it, and in a moment the Centaurus was on top, floating above the piled cotton wool- of the- cloud layer. Appearing from nowhere, the Auckland Aero Club’s Beechcraft, with Mr. K, B. Robinson at the controls and photographers aboard came alongside. Signals were exchanged between the passengers and those aboard the Centaurus, so close did the little machine/.. fly and cameras were levelled time and time again. Speed Noted Over City

The west .coast unrolled steadily be. low. From GOOOft Kaipara was a silver harbour and the beaches at Piha, Kare Kare and Whatipu could bo clearly distinguished. In the Waitakeres, the Nihotupu dam was visible by reason of the pale green of the water against the darker green of the bush. Banking in a wide circle, the Centaurus was headed back toward Auckland. Gradually she lost height and city buildings assumed normal proportions. The speed was apparent now and the great flying-boat passed quickly over the city. A subdued humming announced switching on of t'-o Hn? flap motors to bring down the landing soeed and the harbour opening out from the size of a toy P"a to **= full dimensions, seemed to come gliding upward. The swish of

water against the rounded hull, the unexpected silence of the motors and a few splashes over the windows aft announced the landing. For a distance the Centaurus planed along. The thrill of speed boating was added to that of aviation. Gradually water claimed the hull and the ship lost way. Rapidly travellers left their comfortable seats, produced cigarettes and pipes ready for a smoke as soon as, they were ashore, and waited for the launch. Little was said. The appreciation of each guest was more eloquently expressed by his silence and by a longing glance backward as he left the ship. At the foot of the ladder leading to the control cabins was Captain Burgess. Smilingly, he acknowledged the thanks of his guests and as the last stepped aboard the waiting tender, he turned back to explain the technicalities to an eager party of aviators from ail parts of New Zealand.

GOODWILL MESSAGES DOMINION AND AUSTRALIA LETTERS BY CENTAURUS . (Por Presß Association.) AUCKLAND, last night. The following letter, written from Government House, Canberra, on December 21, has been received by the Governor-General, Viscount Galway, from the Governor-General of Australia, Lord Gowrie: —“It is a great pleasure to me to forward by the Empire flying boat Centaurus, to Your Excellency a message of goodwill and affection from the people of this Commonwealth to those of our sister Dominion, New Zealand. “Although the forthcoming flight of the Centaurus may be regarded in the, nature of a survey, its objective is to bring nearer to hand the inauguration of the Empire flying boat service between our two great Dominions. "I trust that the New Year and each year which follows, may bring to Your Excellency’s Dominion and to the Commonwealth, happiness, prosperity and peace.” Viscount Galway replied as follows from Government House, Auckland, to-day: —"It was most gratifying to me as Governor-General of New Zealand to receive your message of goodwill and affection from the people of the Commonwealth on the occasion of the flight of the Centaurus from the Mother Country to New Zealand via Australia. “I can assure you that the landing of the Centaurus in Auckland Harbour yesterday was ample proof to all who saw it that the Empire flying boat service between England, Australia and New Zealand is, to all intents and purposes, an accomplished fact. '“I most cordially reciprocate your good wishes for the New Year. It will be my pleasure at all times to cooperate with Your Excellency for the good of His Majesty’s service in these oortions of his Dominions.”

The following letter from the Prime Minister of-Australia, Mr. J. A. Lyons, to the New Zealand Prime Minister, was brought to Auckland by the Centaurus: —“My Dear Mr. Savage. It is with very great pleasure that I am availing myself of '.the opportunity given by the flight of the Empire flying boat Centaurus to send through you greetings from the people of Australia to the people of New Zealand. “This flight will , bring our two countries even closer together than they have been in the past, and since it is the first practical step toward the establishment of a regular flying service across the Tasman, it marks an epoch in the relations between the two countries.’’

GUESTS AT LUNCHEON FLYING BOAT CREWS BRITISH AND AMERICAN (Per Prnss Association.) AUCKLAND, last night. Although the luncheon given by the Auckland Harbour Board to-day was in honour of Captain J. W. Burgess and the crew of the Centaurus, the men from the Samoan Clipper of Pan-American Airways were not overlooked. Captain Musick and members of his crew, in addition to Mr. Harold Gatty, were all guests at the function. Among other guests were Major A. E. Purvis, representing the Gov-ernor-General, Viscount Galway, the Attorney-General, the Hon. H. G. Mason, the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. W. Lee Martin, RearAdmiral Drummond, the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, Group-Captain T. M, Wilkes, the Controller of Civil 'Aviation, Flight-Lieutenant Lester, the

officer commanding the Hobsonville Air Base, Mr. N. S. Falla, chairman of Union Airways, and also the chairman and managing director of the Union Steam Ship Company, and Mr. F. Maurice Clarke, general manager of Union Airways. Both Captain Burgess, sen., father of the commander of the Centaurus, and Captain D. Burgess, a brother, were present, and the guests also included representatives of shipping and commercial interests in the city.