BOAC Canadair 4 (DC4-M) in New Zealand?

[komata]

I have recently been told about two BOAC DC4M's (aka Canadair 4 'North Star's) visiting New Zealand around 1948, possibly on a 'Route-Proving' flight.

This site's 'Search' function was unable to find anything about this under 'Canadair' 'North Star' or 'DC 4M', although I may not have asked the right question/s.


Can anyone confirm that the event actually occurred, if it did, provide any more details about it?


Thank you.  

[lindstrim]

Don't know about BOAC but Canadian Pacific did,

rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/12612?page=3

[errolmartyn]

Komata,

The following news items may relate to your query. Note, though that the year is 1949 and the aircraft brought CPA (not BOAC) officials to New Zealand. It is, however, described as the first such occasion on which a Canadair IV visited here.

PACIFIC SURVEY FLIGHT
CANADIAN PLANE TO VISIT DOMINION
Wellington, May 31 [1949]

The trail for the new airline from Canada to Australia and New Zealand is being laid by a Canadair IV machine.
The latest organization in the Pacific field is the Canadian Pacific Airlines a subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific
Railway. The route now being covered is' from Vancouver via San Francisco, Honolulu, Canton Island and Fiji
to Sydney. The latest information places the date of arrival in Australia as Friday.

Though approved plans for Canadian Pacific Airlines coverage south includes a link from Fiji to Auckland, no preliminary arrangement has been made at this 'end for the survey plane to include New Zealand in its first flight. Today, however, unofficial information reached the Canadian Pacific Railway headquarters at Auckland that the Canadair IV would fly from Sydney to New Zealand on June 9. Though it is understood that preliminary arrangements for its reception in New Zealand have been put in hand, the actual airport of arrival is not known. In a normal southward regular run Whenuapai, the only international civil airport in New Zealand, would be used. In the present circumstances the military aerodrome at Ohakea could take the plane. Overseas passenger planes do not use Paraparaumu, but a survey flight might not be regarded in the same light as a civil passenger flight.

It is reported that the plane is carrying 18 persons.

The Wellington manager for the Canadian Pacific Railway, Mr C. E. Leighton, said this was the first step in the expansion of Canadian Pacific Airlines beyond' the borders of Canada.

[The Southland Times, 1 Jun 49]


FIRST OF ITS KIND IN DOMINION
Canadair IV Plane Lands At Whenuapai
Auckland, June 9 [1949]

A Canadair IV airliner, the first of its kind to land in New Zealand, arrived at Whenuapai from Sydney this morning. On board were 19 representatives of Canadian Pacific Airlines who have been touring the Pacific preparing the route for the service from Vancouver to Sydney, starting on July 13. It was originally planned to include New Zealand in the service by flying the Tasman and returning to Vancouver from Auckland but this is now unlikely. as neither B.C.P.A. nor Pan-American is allowed to operate across the Tasman.

Mr W. G. Townley, C.P.A. general manager of operations, said today it was hoped that a connecting service could be arranged from Fiji so that New Zealand would not be completely bypassed. He and several. other airlines executives went to Wellington this morning for discussions with the Minister of Civil Aviation, Mr Jones, on this possibility.

The Canadair IV looks like a cross between a DC6 and a Skymaster (DC4). Its only major distinctions are four Rolls~Royce engines, which have longer, and sleeker nacelles than the Douglas engines. Fully pressurized, the. CanadI air IV cruises at 300 m.p.h. at 18,000 feet. It has sleeperette accommodation for 36 passengers.

[The Southland Times, 10 Jun 49]

Errol

[komata]

Thank you Gentlemen for your replies; my informant would seem to be in error.