N.Z. Pilot Makes An Outstanding Flight In Jet Plane

Wanganui Chronicle, 16 April 1949, Page 6

N.Z. Pilot Makes An Outstanding Flight In Jet Plane

AUCKLAND, Thursday. FlightLieutenant G. Francis, A.F.C., of Hamilton, three weeks ago made one of the most outstanding flights in jet. history—as the pilot of an R.A.F. Vampire which flew 6000 miles from Singapore to Khartoum for a general performance trial. The Vampire was in the Malayan area for humidity tests and will now spend three months in the Sudan for dry weather flying. The New Zealander has in the past 14 months flown the jet on strenuous trials and demonstrations to most countries in the Pacific and the Far East. Taking off on March 13, the Vampire met storms and strong winds for most of the flight. The ground crew responsible for the jet’s maintenance flew ahead in a Dakota servicing plane at each landing point. The Vampire went from Singapore to Rangoon, Calcutta, Delhi, Muripur, Jiwan i, Sallala (Saudi Arabia), across the Red Sea and down to Khartoum. At the end of the dry heat trials the aircraft will be dismantled, crated and shipped to England, where it will be surveyed by aeronautical experts to analyse the effect tropical conditions have had on the jet. This type of fighter is already being ordered in big numbers by countries out to reequip their air forces.