N. Guinea

New Planes For

Carpenters Buy Two DHB6 's in Singapore

WHEN, in March last, the Carpenter air mail plane, flying from Sala maua to Rabaul, was unable to find the Rabaul landing-ground, owing to phenomenally heavy rain-squalls, and was compelled to come down in the sea off the coast of New Ireland, the Car penter service between Sydney and Rabaul had to be carried on with only one machine.

The service was inaugurated in May, 1938, with three De Havilland 868 planes; but one was taken over by the Commonwealth Government when war broke out in September, 1939.

As the plane which came down off New Ireland was not smashed, and as it was quickly salvaged, it was hoped that it might be made serviceable again; but expert examination showed that the immersion in sea-water had done so much damage, to both engines and fabrication, that a complete write-off was necessary.

The firm, fortunately, was able to purchase two four-engined 11-passenger D.H. 86 planes in Singapore, which had been operated by Wearne’s Air Services on Malayan routes. Mr. Mant left Syd ney in April, by flying-boat for Singa pore, and he brought one of the planes immediately to Sydney, along the air mail route, and it arrived at Mascot on May 3.

The other plane will be brought from Singapore within a month. This means that the Carpenter service will now be operated as heretofore with three machines —two being actually in use and one in reserve.

The firm was lucky in being able to obtain these two machines, as aero planes are much in demand, these days.

The new purchases are not exactly the same as the three aeroplanes with which the service was opened. They were De Havilland 868 planes; whereas the two which have been bought at Singapore are De Havilland 86. But they are con sidered to be near enough, for all requirements.