NEW PLYMOUTH LANDING?

Taranaki Daily News, 21 October 1933, Page 7

NEW PLYMOUTH LANDING?

ULM MAY CROSS TASMAN AERO CLUB SENDS CABLE LOGICAL ALIGHTING POINT The New Plymouth Aero Club has cabled Flight-Lieutenant C. T. P. Ulm inviting him to land at the New Plymouth airport in the event of his continuing his successful England-Australia flight to New Zealand. In a cablegram sent to the Vacuum Oil Company yesterday Mr. Ulm intimated that there was every possibility of the flight extending to New Zealand. He added that if he did so he would probably land on Monday. Two landing grounds are understood to be in the running for the honour of the landing—Blenheim (Marlborough) and New Plymouth. The New Plymouth airport has been described by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and SquadronLeader T. M. Wilkes, Director of Air Services in New Zealand, as the logical terrpinus of trans-Tasman flights. Because of this and the unexcelled landing and taking-off facilities provided—a quarter mile runway in any direction—the aero club confidently hopes that New Plymouth will be chosen in the event of the flight being continued to New Zealand.

A successful accomplishment of the proposed Tasman crossing would mean the completion of the first England-New Zealand air trip. If New Plymouth is selected as the landing-ground it will securely establish its claim to be the important New Zealand connecting link in any extension of the Empire airways scheme to the Dominion. The airport’s claim to be the starting and finishing point for an Australia-New Zealand service has already been endorsed in a practical manner by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith.

The England-Australia service begins in 1934, and will take 18 days from London to Sydney. A fast mail plane flying night and day, as did Mr. Ulm and his crew in the “Faith in Australia,” would cut that time in half. Mr. Ulm was associated with Sir Charles in his first trans-Tasman air crossing in September, 1928, when the landing was at Wigram aerodrome, Christchurch, which was then the only suitable ground. On this account it is considered probable that he will be influenced by Sir Charles’ opinion, which is unreservedly in favour of New Plymouth.

Mr. Ulm’s Australia-England venture took six days 17 hours 45 minutes to accomplish. If he continues successfully to New Zealand on Monday it would mean the covering of the distance between the Homeland and the Dominion in under ten days—a remarkable achievement.

The New Plymouth Aero Club’s cable to Mr. Ulm extended a cordial invitation to him to land here and referred him to Captain P. G. Taylor, navigator on Sir Charles Kingsford Smith’s 1933 trans-Tasman flight, and Mr. F. Haig, Australian aviation officer for the Vacuum Oil Company, far testimony of the distinct advantages of New Plymouth as the most reasonable landing ground to finish the flight. The club offered to make every arrangement for a night and day landing, and for wireless facilities if required. Mr. Haig visited New Plymouth with Mr. Oscar Garden and has plans and specifications of the New Plymouth airport. Mr. Ulm’s reply is expected to-day or to-morrow.