VISIT OF THE CUTTY SARK

Taranaki Daily News, 26 September 1930, Page 9

VISIT OF THE CUTTY SARK

SLIGHT DAMAGE TO A WING REPAIRS NECESSITATE DELAY. RETURN TO AUCKLAND TO-DAY. Rough weather marred the visit of the flying boat “Cutty Sark,” which arrived at New Plymouth yesterday morning from the seaplane base at Hobsonville, Auckland. • When the plane was about to take off it drifted into a pile of the Ne S wton King wharf, tearing a hole in the leading edge of the right wing a few feet from the extremity. After some trouble the boat was moored and repairs were carried out. It is expected that a return to Auckland will be made this morning. The “Cutty Sark” is piloted by Squad-ron-Leader L. M. Isitt and Wing Commander S. Grant-Dalton, D. 5.0., A.F.C., was making the trip to Wellington, but he will now leave by land this morning. The third member of the party is Corporal Smith, the mechanic. The craft left Hobsonville at about 7 o’clock yesterday morning./and crossed through Manukau Heads. I'A’lio route taken was decided by the presence of low clouds, and th© Aying: boat flew down the coast, and with’ a following wind arrived over New Plymouth at about 8.45 a.m. After circling the town, and later the port, the flying boat alighted on the water “like a duck” on the east side of the Newton King wharf. The Harbour Board launch towed the craft to a temporary mooring between the Moturoa and Newton King wharves, and there 55 gallons of motor spirit and one gallon of lubricating oil were filtered into th© tanks in tho wings by the Shell Company. The Harbour Board launch, on board which were Captain O. E. Mclntyre, Messrs. C. E. Bellringer, J. R. Cruickshank, P. E. Stainton, C. H. Weston, J. S. Connett, G. W. B. Lowson and G. Lihwood, stood by. Among other representative citizens present in the large crowd which lined the wharves to welcome tho visitors were tho Maydr, Mr. H. V. S. Griffiths and. Messrs. F. Amoore and L. M. MoSs.

Wing-Commander Grant-Dalton left the boat, while the refuelling was in progress and went ashore to gain Weather reports. It was a bleak day, perhops the worst the fliers could have chosen to come to New Plymouth. Squalls earn© out of tho north, and even the smooth water of the harbour was ruffled. Later in the day th© wind swung to th© south-west, and the water would have been better for -a take-off, but heavy sea showers and a strong swell hampered operations. About an hour after the plan© arrived th© refuelling was completed and the tow lines were cast off. The two engines were started, and the machine taxied towardsf tho sea. As the boat went the hull buried itself in the wavelets. Then it turned towards the land and the engines roared. Another turn was made, this time towards the Newton King wharf. The plane was close in and the turn was not complete when the flying boat drifted into the wharf. The right wing hit one of the piles and the plane was gradually moving under the wharf. Helpers were present on the wharf and men climbed down'the piles and fended th: plane off. The tail of the piano was in tanger of being bumped when two dinghies arrived, and after strenuous efforts the “Cutty Sark” was towed ont and the Harbour Board launch took it to safe moorings. The repairing of the boat was left with Flying-Officer Keith and Corporal Smith; -At first it was thought this might be effected by bending a piece of three-ply over the hole, but on FlyingOfficer Keith’s suggestion a six-foot sheet of aluminium was obtained and screwed over tho gap after the repairing of the inner portion of the leading edge. The completed repair was very neat, and it would be hard to discern where the break had been. Wing-Commander Grant-Dalton was very pleased with it. Appreciation of tho aid given the flyers by Captain Meiniyre and the Harbour Board employees was expressed by Squadron-Leader Isitt. Referring to the mishap, he said that “if it had not been for th© assistance oK those men on the wharf who fended off the boat, and for the aid of the fishermen in. the two dinghies who towed us out, the damage would have been more serious."

Wing-Commander Grant-Dalton, who is leaving for Wellington by train this morning, Squadron-Leader Isitt and Corporal Smith stayed at New Plymouth last night. The Cutty Sark is a long, silver-grey monoplane with two Hermes engines, each developing 115 h.p. and perched above the wing. The hull, which is boat-like in shape, is all metal. The cabin, in front of the wing, is glassed-in comfortably. No wind reaches the pilot and passengers, who may ride with as much ease as in a limousine motor-car. There is accommodation for four.