PROBLEM OF FLYING HEAVY GENERATORS INTO WESTERN BERLIN

Wanganui Chronicle, 17 February 1949, Page 5

PROBLEM OF FLYING HEAVY GENERATORS INTO WESTERN BERLIN

LONDON, Feb. 16 (Recd. 6pm).— The Berlin correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says aircraft experts in Washington and London are discussing the problem of flying into Berlin the core of a turo-generator weighing 26 tons and two other power units weighing 22 and 23 tons respectively. The units are to be used for the reconstruction of the Berlin west power station in the British sector, from which most of the equipment had been removed by the Russians. At least four of five vital parts for the new power station are too heavy to be carried by any aircraft now in Europe. These parts are single forgings with certain precision attachments which cannot further be broken down. Unless the parts can be conveyed into the British sector by June or July al! work in the power station will have to stop.

One of the many problems in addition to finding a suitable type of aircraft to lift the load, is the question of landing grounds. The landing strips at both Templehof and Tegel are considered too weak to take a 26-ton load in addition to the heavy aircraft carrying it. It is suggested that efforts may be made to persuade the Russians to allow this electrical equipmen to be carried by road or rail in return for some commensurate concession by the British authorities. (Special N.Z.P.A. Correspondent).