BASE AT AUCKLAND

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20829, 10 September 1937, Page 13

BASE AT AUCKLAND

PAN-AMERICAN AIRWAYS By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, September 8. “We know we can use the Auckland area for our base; but at present it is not ideal for our purposes,” said Mr Harold Gatty, special representative of Pan-American Airways’ interests in New Zealand, to-night. He and Mrs Gatty expect to be in Wellington until Tuesday. Mr Gatty said he thought it would be another four or five years before anyone could determine what type and size of aeroplane would be used for ocean services. He anticipated many developments in aircraft, and upon that would depend the nature of both land and water bases. He expected a decision from his principals on the Auckland base within the next two or three weeks.

“Wellington has not altogether been eliminated from our plans,” he said. "At the moment we are more concerned at the distance over the final hop from San Francisco —Pago Pago to Auckland.” The range of aeroplanes was the factor at present which determined to a large extent the locality of a terminal base. The extra 200 miles it would take on a course to Wellington would result in practically no payload if a Sikorsky clipper similar to that used by Captain Musick on the first survey flight were flown. It would make little difference, however, to the payload when the big 40-ton Boeings, capable of carrying 40 to 60 passengers, operated. These craft were at present being constructed, and would be flying early in the new year. They would be equipped with four engines, each developing 1500 horse-power. These ships would be easily twice the size of the ordinary clipper boat.