AIR DISPLAY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 18, 1 November 1940, Page 5

AIR DISPLAY.

PILOTS AT WIGRAM AERODROME.

REVIEW BY GOVERNOR-GENERAL

(Per Press Association/.

CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. '

A short but impressive ceremony was staged at the Air Force Station at Wigram to-day on the occasion of the last official visit of Lord Galway to the Station.

The ceremony took the form of a March Past by*looo airmen of the Station, followed by a Fly Past of aircraft and a. demonstration of phases of training that arc carried out at thd flying training schools beyond the elementary stages. Air to earth firing training, which is naturally a very important consideration ill the training of operational pilots, was demonstrated by gircraft attacking the ’drome. Divebombing, as practised by pilots who will join the operational squadrons, provided an effective display, low-level attacks being made by Airspeed Oxfords. As all pilots must be trained to have full knowledge of their aircraft and their behaviour in the air, there is no better method of ensuring this than by teaching the pupil aerobatics. In to-day’s display the aerobatics were limited, but they were greatly appreciated by the visitors. Instrument flying by two aircraft also provided an interesting demonstration. Tho final event of the display was an exhibition of synchronised aerobatics which required considerable judgment and anticipation by the pilots of the two aircraft carrying out the manoeuvres, as well as a high degree of skill in the forming of the actual evolutions themselves.

While the main items of the display wore in progress, formations of Airspeed Oxfords and Fairey Gordon aircraft flew overhead and displayed most effectively the pitch of training to which the pilots can be brought in the comparatively short space of time which is available for their training.