NEW MOTH ARRIVES.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 40, 16 February 1929, Page 12

NEW MOTH ARRIVES.

MAJOR COWPER'S FLIGHT

ACTIVITY AT AERODROME. THREE MACHINES TAKE THE AIR. The Auckland Aero Club to-day entered upon the active phase of its existence when the club's instructor, Major G. A. C. Cowper arrived in Auckland with the first Moth machine.

Major Cowper. when he left Christchurch yesterday morning at 6 o'clock, intended to make a one day flight to Auckland, but unfortunately he was forced to land near Kaikoura owing to a thick fog which was encountered. He left again three hours afterwards and reached Ha wera at 6 p.m. yesterday, after making a call at Blenheim. This morning the Moth was on the wing again, leaving Hawera shortly after 9 o'clock. The Moth, after a fast flight, reached the Aero Club's aerodrome at Ihumato at 11.40, making a perfect landing. Lieutenant T. W. White, of Napier, who has been taking a course at Wigram Aerodrome, Christchurch, accompanied Major Cowper as far as Hawera. This morning Mr. .T. W. Craig, an ex-member of the R.A.F., entered the passenger's cockpit and flew to Auckland.

Major Cowper was welcomed at the aerodrome here by the members of the committee of the Aero Club. He said he flew at 1000 feet most of the way from Christchurch. When passing over the Conway River, which is about 100 miles from Christchurch, he ran into thick fog and rain, which caused him to descend to a height varying from 100 to 300 feet. Eventually he was forced down nearly to the water's edge on the coast near Kaikoura, so he deemed it advisable to turn into the country at the back of Kaikoura and land. The Moth descended in a small paddock near a farm house. Major Cowper was enthusiastic about the wonderful performance of the Moth, which is the first of its type to be seen here with the Gipsy engine of 100 h.p. and Handley Page slotted wings.

There was great activity at the aerodrome this morning, no less than three machines being seen in the air. There was the Moth, the Avro-Avian, piloted by Captain George Bolt, and the new Blackburn Bluebird, which was tested for the first time this morning by Cantain Bolt and Lieutenant lan Keith. Lieutenant Keith afterwards made several flights, taking passengers.

During the week-end Mr. Donelas Mill, who landed three Moths of the latest type on Thursday, will deliver to the Aero Club the machine which was presented to the club by the "New Zealand HeTald." When thin machine is flying the Aero Club will make an early startto instruct the larg« number of pnnil members who are anxiously waiting to commence their course. Major Cowper, in faot. will take his first pupil up on Monday morning.