Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 1, 2022 0:27:12 GMT 12
This is very interesting to discover the Kiwis involved in the design of the Comet jet airliner. From The Press dated 6 December 1955:
COMET’S FLIGHT TO SYDNEY
N.Z. Engineer Among Passengers
WORK IN DEVELOPING AIRCRAFT
(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 pm.) SYDNEY, Dec. 5.
A tall, 33-year-old New Zealander, who is among the passengers in the Comet III jet airliner which reached Sydney from London yesterday, had a particular interest in the plane’s magnificent performance. He is Mr Peter Hall, head of de Havilland’s aerodynamics department, which is responsible for the development of the Comet. He made the trip, he said today, to study its performance for himself, and to make explanations of any details to interested persons or organisations he will meet in Australia and New Zealand.
There were 20,000 people at Mascot airport to greet the Comet. One of them was Peter’s mother, Mrs A. F. Hall, wife of the Rev. A. H. Hall, of Paeroa. It was the first time she had seen her son in five years. She will be waiting to greet him again when he arrives in Auckland in the Comet next Monday, for she will return to New Zealand on Saturday by air. Also to welcome him will be his father, who was unable to go to Australia, and his only brother, Mr Christopher Hall, of Hamilton.
Mr Peter Hall was educated at Wanganui College. He joined the Air Force in 1940 and served throughout the rest of the war. He married in England, and then returned to New Zealand to resume his interrupted education. With Rehabilitation assistance, he went to Canterbury University College to take a degree in engineering.
Then he joined de Havilland’s. There were two or three New Zealanders with the firm, he said. An Aucklander, Mr Maurice Cowley, worked with him on the development of the Comet IV. Another New Zealander. Mr Don Warner, is chief aerodynamicist at de Havilland’s Christchurch factory near Bournemouth.
Mr Hall is particularly keen to see New Zealand again, though his stay there will be a hurried one. He has already been assured by New Zealanders who have met him in Sydney that he can expect a warm welcome. The Comet will leave Sydney tomorrow afternoon for Melbourne. On Friday, it will fly from Melbourne to Perth and then back to Sydney in the one day.
COMET’S FLIGHT TO SYDNEY
N.Z. Engineer Among Passengers
WORK IN DEVELOPING AIRCRAFT
(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 pm.) SYDNEY, Dec. 5.
A tall, 33-year-old New Zealander, who is among the passengers in the Comet III jet airliner which reached Sydney from London yesterday, had a particular interest in the plane’s magnificent performance. He is Mr Peter Hall, head of de Havilland’s aerodynamics department, which is responsible for the development of the Comet. He made the trip, he said today, to study its performance for himself, and to make explanations of any details to interested persons or organisations he will meet in Australia and New Zealand.
There were 20,000 people at Mascot airport to greet the Comet. One of them was Peter’s mother, Mrs A. F. Hall, wife of the Rev. A. H. Hall, of Paeroa. It was the first time she had seen her son in five years. She will be waiting to greet him again when he arrives in Auckland in the Comet next Monday, for she will return to New Zealand on Saturday by air. Also to welcome him will be his father, who was unable to go to Australia, and his only brother, Mr Christopher Hall, of Hamilton.
Mr Peter Hall was educated at Wanganui College. He joined the Air Force in 1940 and served throughout the rest of the war. He married in England, and then returned to New Zealand to resume his interrupted education. With Rehabilitation assistance, he went to Canterbury University College to take a degree in engineering.
Then he joined de Havilland’s. There were two or three New Zealanders with the firm, he said. An Aucklander, Mr Maurice Cowley, worked with him on the development of the Comet IV. Another New Zealander. Mr Don Warner, is chief aerodynamicist at de Havilland’s Christchurch factory near Bournemouth.
Mr Hall is particularly keen to see New Zealand again, though his stay there will be a hurried one. He has already been assured by New Zealanders who have met him in Sydney that he can expect a warm welcome. The Comet will leave Sydney tomorrow afternoon for Melbourne. On Friday, it will fly from Melbourne to Perth and then back to Sydney in the one day.
