FAST TASMAN AIR CROSSING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 7, 9 January 1946, Page 3

FAST TASMAN AIR CROSSING

FLYING-BOAT, SYDNEY TO AUCKLAND * Auckland, Jan. 8 ine fastest rans-Tasman flight yet made by a Catalina flying boat was made on Monday by an R.N.Z.A.F. aircraft, which landed on Waitemata Harbour at 2 p.m., exactly seven hours after leaving Sydney. The flight, is considered to be a particularly good performance for a Catalina, which is an aircraft designed more for long distances at slow speed than rar short, fast hops. Carrying 16 civilian and service passengers, the aircraft was piloted by Warrant-Officer G. Birkett, of Gisborne. Skilful use was mane on the trip of unusually favourable prevailing westerly winds, which were found to be most effective at 10,006 leet. Warrant-Officer Birkett took the Catalina up to this height soon after leaving the Australian coat, and did not come down any lowei untij approaching New Zealand. During the flight he repeatedly manoeuvred the aircraft about its course to gain a better advantage of tail winds. With a normal cruising speed of about 110 knots, the times taken by Catalmas on the Sydney-Auckland ran usually range from eight tc eight and a-half hours, and occasionally as much as 11 hour.’. Flying into the prevailing wind, west-bound flying boats take anything up to two hours longer across the Tasman. The fastest time for a run from Sydney by a Tasman Empire Airways flying boat is 5 hours, 56 minute... The fastest west-bound flight was made by the Awarua, in 7 hours, 7 minutes. On April 27, 1945, a British Overseas Avro Lancastrian aeroplane landed at Whenuapaj 5 hours 5 minutes out from Sydney. The 1350 miles from Sydney were covered at an average speed of 260 miles an hour.