Sydney-New Guinea

Air Line

Carpenter Service to Start at End of June

ALTHOUGH negotiations are still pro ceeding with the Commonwealth Government, Sir Walter Carpenter, head of Messrs. W. R. Carpenter and Co. Ltd., made an emphatic public statement on June 9 that his firm would commence operating an air line between Sydney and New Guinea at the end of June.

“A new Gannet aeroplane, built at Mascot and powered with American Menasco twin-engines, will be tested about June 20, and plans have been pre pared for Captain Grahame to fly the machine to Salamaua on its inaugural flight within the following fortnight,” said Sir Walter.

“So far I have not been successful in obtaining the Federal authorities’ permis sion to start this service. They contend that this particular machine is unsuitable for a sea crossing of 350 to 375 miles,” he continued.

“I am going to insist that the civil aviation people put this machine through the most stringent tests, similar to tests which American ’planes have to pass.

Should any restrictions be placed on the Gannet operating the proposed service, I will carry the matter as far as demand ing a Royal Commission to inquire into the conduct of aviation in New Guinea,” added Sir Walter, At first the new service will be fort nightly, but if sufficient support is forth coming it will be speeded up to a weekly

schedule. The journey will take two days —Sydney to Townsville, via Brisbane, on the first day, and Townsville to Salamaua, via Cairns and Port Moresby on the second. The sea flight will probably be across from Cape Flattery (north of Cooktown) to Pt. Moresby.

The Gannet will have accommodation for four passengers, each with an allow ance of 200 lbs. of luggage. In addition the ’plane will carry 200 lbs. of mail and cargo. It is believed that the fare from Sydney to New Guinea will be £37/10/-.

Another Carpenter Machine

Sir Walter Carpenter also announced that a large 16-passenger twin-engined monoplane had just left England on the W.R.C. vessel Rabaul to be used in New Guinea. The machine, he said, was an Avro 642 —a high-wing cabin aircraft fitted with two Armstrong-Siddeley Jaguar engines of 460 h.p, each. The new Avro —a recent English creation —would cruise with a full loa,d at 145 miles an hour, and would cost £17,500 landed at Sydney.

Guinea Airways’ Lockheed

Electra

A big Lockheed Electra twin-engined monoplane was shipped from San Fran cisco on June 7 to the order of Guinea Airways Ltd. for use as a passenger and freight-carrier in New Guinea. It has accommodation for 10 passengers, and a top speed of 215 miles an hour.

The ’plane will be flown to New Guinea by one of the company’s pilots (Mr. Eric Chater), An American pilot is accom panying the machine to Sydney to under take initial test flights.

Mr. A. L. Robinson, of the New Guinea District Services Department, arrived in Australia recently to spend his furlough in Sydney.