Transport

New Guinea Aerial Transport

THERE have been some changes in the increasing fleets of aeroplanes which carry on the New Guinea goldfields ser vices.

Guinea Airways Ltd. have lost three machines lately. Two small Moths were smashed on the aerodromes owing to engine failures and one—and probably both —will not be regarded as repairable.

A De Havilland 31, one of the fleet which Guinea Airways recently bought) from West Australian Airways, crashed on Wau aerodrome on its first flight in frorrv the coast, and was badly wrecked- No one was injured in any of these accidents.

It is expected that Guinea Airways will introduce new machines in place of those damaged.

It is reported that some firm or person is bringing four 14-seater Douglas machines to Sydney, to be re-shipped to New Guinea, but no such machines have been ordered, as far as can be ascertain ed, by any of the aviation companies operating in the Territory.

The Pacific Aerial Transport Co., of Sala maua, New Guinea, has added a four passenger aeroplane to its fleet. Kevin Parer, in charge of P.A.T., wirelessed his agent in Melbourne to secure a ’plane and ship it all haste. The order was received on September 5. After a hurried search, the agent located a machine built in Mel bourne six years ago, but not then in com mission. Within a few hours, mechanics were working to overhaul and refit it. On September 7 the machine, a De Havilland 50, was shipped by the freighter Wear to Sydney, arriving on September 10. The aeroplane was unloaded at Sydney and taken aboard the B.P. liner Neptuna. It was landed at Salamaua on the 19th, just a fortnight after the order reached Melbourne.