Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 14, 2022 23:25:18 GMT 12
N.Z. Men To Fly Vulcans
[From the London Correspondent of ‘"The Press”] LONDON, October 2.
Three New Zealanders are members of the first R.A.F. Squadron to be equipped with the giant Avro Vulcan delta wing bombers. Known as “flying triangles,” the bombers attain supersonic speeds and are the largest delta wing aircraft in the world.
Competition is keen for entry to this V-Force squadron and standards laid down by the R.A.F. are regarded as “very stiff.’’ Pilots must have had at least 1750 hours’ flying, but the average flying hours of pilots of the Vulcans is 3000 hours.
The New Zealanders who have achieved the distinction of gaining posting to the Vulcans are Squadron Leader P. K. Rodgers, formerly of Sandringham, Auckland, Squadron Leader F. P Walker, formerly of Hamilton, and Flight Lieutenant Graham Petterson, formerly of Brown’s Bay, Auckland. Squadron Leader Rodgers trained in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, saw service in Britain during the war and joined the R.A.F. in 1947. He is a flight commander and is stationed at Waddington, Lincolnshire.
Squadron Leader Walker, who joined the R.N.Z.A.F. in 1940 later became a pilot and trained at the American Naval Academy and flew in Coastal Command during the war. He joined the R.A.F. College at Cranwell for several years and was a Canberra Squadron Commander for three years. He has been appointed flight commander of a second Vulcan squadron which has been formed.
Flight Lieutenant Petterson also served initially with the R.N.Z.A.F. and flew in 40 and 41 Squadrons. He was a member of the crew of an R.N.Z.A.F. Hastings which took part in the! London-Christchurch air race. During the Suez operation he was in an all-New Zealand crew which flew in a marker squadron.
PRESS, 12 OCTOBER 1957
[From the London Correspondent of ‘"The Press”] LONDON, October 2.
Three New Zealanders are members of the first R.A.F. Squadron to be equipped with the giant Avro Vulcan delta wing bombers. Known as “flying triangles,” the bombers attain supersonic speeds and are the largest delta wing aircraft in the world.
Competition is keen for entry to this V-Force squadron and standards laid down by the R.A.F. are regarded as “very stiff.’’ Pilots must have had at least 1750 hours’ flying, but the average flying hours of pilots of the Vulcans is 3000 hours.
The New Zealanders who have achieved the distinction of gaining posting to the Vulcans are Squadron Leader P. K. Rodgers, formerly of Sandringham, Auckland, Squadron Leader F. P Walker, formerly of Hamilton, and Flight Lieutenant Graham Petterson, formerly of Brown’s Bay, Auckland. Squadron Leader Rodgers trained in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, saw service in Britain during the war and joined the R.A.F. in 1947. He is a flight commander and is stationed at Waddington, Lincolnshire.
Squadron Leader Walker, who joined the R.N.Z.A.F. in 1940 later became a pilot and trained at the American Naval Academy and flew in Coastal Command during the war. He joined the R.A.F. College at Cranwell for several years and was a Canberra Squadron Commander for three years. He has been appointed flight commander of a second Vulcan squadron which has been formed.
Flight Lieutenant Petterson also served initially with the R.N.Z.A.F. and flew in 40 and 41 Squadrons. He was a member of the crew of an R.N.Z.A.F. Hastings which took part in the! London-Christchurch air race. During the Suez operation he was in an all-New Zealand crew which flew in a marker squadron.
PRESS, 12 OCTOBER 1957
