HISTORY MADE

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21100, 30 April 1940, Page 8

HISTORY MADE

COMMERCIAL FLIGHT AOTEAROA TAKES OFF PASSENGERS FOR SYDNEY THERE FOR AFTERNOON TEA (By Telegraph.—Press Association) AUCKLAND, Tuesday Rising from the Waltemata Harbour before sunrise, the fly-ing-boat Aotearoa today inaugurated the regular Trans-Tasman commercial service, New Zealand’s final air link with Britain. Shortly before six o’clock the Minister of Aviation, the Hon. F. Jones, cut the ribbon across the gangway. At 6.9, with a final wave from Captain J. W. Burgess, the Aotearoa was off. She circled the city beneath a clear sky and swept westward for Sydney. Before the departure brief speeches were made by Mr Jones, Sir Harry Batterbee, High Commissioner in New Zealand for the United Kingdom, Captain E. C. Johnston, of Melbourne, assistant director of civil aviation in Australia, and Colonel Falla, chairman of directors of Tasman Empire Airways, Limited. Afternoon Tea in Sydney Despite the early hour a number of people gathered at the airways base and on surrounding vantage points. It was still dark when the brief ceremony commenced. As the ship lifted in the first light of a perfect flying day, the silver of her hull merged with the grey of the morning and only her tiny white tail-light could be seen. The happy passengers expected to be in Sydney for afternoon tea. Energy and Resource Speaking before the flying-boat’s departure, Mr Jones mentioned the facts which had militated against an earlier establishment of the service, to which the people of New Zealand and Australia had been for long looking forward. "It is a wonderful tribute to the resources and energy of the British peoples,” said the Minister, “that during a period when the utmost efforts were being demanded for the fulfilment of our tremendous requirements for the armed forces, we can embark on a scheme involving a 1200 miles extension to the longest air route in the world.” Mr Jones wished the captains who would have future charge of the flying-boats “pleasant take-offs and happy landings.” Nine Passengers The passengers included Captain Johnston; Mr A. E. Rudder, representative for Australia and New Zealand of British Overseas Airways Corporation and deputy-chairman of Qantas Empire Airways; Mr W. Hudson Fysh, managing-director of Qantas Empire Airways; Mr C. G. White, of Wellington, a director of the Union Steam Ship Company. Mr Rudder, Mr Fysh and Mr White are directors of Tasman Empire Airways. Other passengers were Mr Harvey Turner, Mr T. C. Webster, Mr H. O. Browne, Miss Joan Hewitt and Miss P. Dromgool, all of Auckland. Approximately 41,000 letters, weighing 6501 b, were carried by the Aotearoa. For Australia there were 20,000, for the East, including Egypt, 5000, and for the United Kingdom about 16,000. The mail included 1258 registered articles. First and second officers with Captain J. W. Burgess were Mr W. J Craig and Mr C. A. MacDonald respectively. Other members of the crew were Mr F. L. Whillans, radio operator, Mr R. A. Phillips, flight clerk, Mr R. S. Peak, flight engineer and Mr J. Bury, flight steward. The Aotearoa is to make a return flight on Thursday. After the departure ceremony Mr Jones, Sir Harry Batterbee and Colonel Falla left for Wellington by

POSITION AT NOON

460 MILES FROM SYDNEY ARRIVAL AT 3 O’CLOCK (By Telegraph.—Press Association) AUCKLAND, Tuesday According to radio advice received at the trans-Tasman air base, the Aotearoa was 600 miles out from Auckland at 10.30 a.m., New Zealand time, flying at 6000 feet at 156 miles an hour. Visibility was 20 miles and the weather partly clouded, with light winds. At noon the flying-boat was 460 miles from Sydney and had radioed the estimated arrival time as 3 o'clock New Zealand time.

COAST SIGHTED

POSITION AT 3 O’CLOCK At 2.20 p.m. the Aotearoa was 80 miles from Sydney, flying at 20001't. at 130 knots in ideal conditions. Although the Australian Broadcasting Commission announcer said that the Aotearoa’s signals were not strong, the voice of the flying-boat’s radio operator could be heard calling Sydney. At 3 p.m. the Aotearoa radioed that she had sighted the Australian coast. The Sydney radio announcer said that the flying-boat could not then be sighted.