AIR TOUR ENDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 245, 16 October 1929, Page 9

AIR TOUR ENDS.

AERO CLUB'S FINE EFFORT. ■— MOTHS RETURN TO AUCKLAND IMPETUS TO AVIATION. Having successfully accomplished their mission of encouraging the provision of landing grounds and instilling an "air sense," the Auckland Aero Club's De Havilland Moth aeroplanes returned to Auckland to-day after a complete tour of the North Island. The three planes arrived over the aerodrome at 1.30, each making a good landing. They left Gisborne at 10.13 a.m. and headed over the Motu hills, and at 5000 feet they were in the clouds for half an hour, coming out at Opotiki on the coast. The coast was followed o\er Whakatane and Tauranga, the 'planes going inland at Katikati, and then straight over Paeroa directly across the Hauraki Plains to Auckland.

Mayor G. A. C. Cowper, the club's instructor, with Mr. K. H. Hacket, led the flight, Captain W. S. R. Bloomfield and Flying Officer Copley in the second 'plane, and Mr. T. 0. Horton, pilot of the third plane, had with him Mr. R. Clare as passenger. As a result of the tour there lias been a marked increase in interest in aviation throughout the North Island, particularly the appreciation by local bodies of the need to provide landing grounds. The club, through its pilots on the tour, has acquired much useful information concerning air routes and prospective landing places. Coming after the club s successful instruction and passenger flights, the tour has demonstrated the vigour and initiative of the Auckland Aero Club. The tour will have an incalculable effect on the progress of aviation in the Dominion, particularly now that it is in its infant stages. Impressions of the Tour. Interviewed, Mr. K. H. llacket ga\e some impressions of the tour. He said that in a great number of the smaller centres which did not operate aero clubs residents were anxious to get into the movement by affiliating with central clubs which would send tneir 'planes and their instructors for a week or so, or perhaps longer, when pupiis might receive instructions. At nil the places visited the members of the party endeavoured to impress upon local bodies that aerodromes were a municipal responsibility. lln a very few cases, Mr. Ilaekct said, it had been found that aerodromes were available, at peppercorn rentals, and even smaller fields which would be necessary in the chain were going to involve financing beyond the capacity of unassisted clubs.

Mr. Hacket said that at every place they called meetings of local bodies or others interested were addressed, and the flyers were pleased to note a general feeling in favour of local bodies giving a start in the matter of aerodrome organisation. There would be no lack of support if ground organisation could be made possible. In several centres local bodies were agreeable to spend money if the necessary legislative authority was forthcoming. The tour was in every way a great success, and would do much towards developing an air sciu>c throughout New Zealand.

Flying Officer Copley, the club's ground engineer,, brought in his 'plane from Hastings a setter pup for liis children, and so soothing was the return journey by air that the tiny animal enjoyed a comfortable sleep. v