CIVIL AVIATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 7, 9 January 1930, Page 8

CIVIL AVIATION.

WELLINGTON AERO CLUB. ; FIRST 'PLANE ARRIVES. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, this day. \ The light SimmortdS Spartah aeroplane ! presented by the "Evening Post" to the » Wellington Aero Club arrived by the ) Rangitata at Auckland and will be i transhipped, probably from Wellington, i to Lyttelton and Christchurch, where it I will be assembled at tho Wigram aCro- • drome, tested, and flown up to Welling--1 ton, in time for the commencement of club flying by the end of the month or early in February. The Simmonds Spartan is a two-seater bi-plane, with folding wings, and fitted with dual control for tuition work. Nine applications have been received by the Wellington Aero Club for the position of club instructor New Zealand and overseas pilots, practically all of them mert With excellent flying records. A thoroughly Well qualified' pilot, with war ahd civil flying experii ence, has been selected by the Club I executive, but his appointment is subject , to the approval of the Director of Air [ Services. Arrangements for the appoiflt- [ ment of a ground engineer are not yet . completed. i As the air pageant last November I brought in a profit of about £900, the I club is in a position to order a second , machine right away, but it has been decided to wait until the first machine has been fully tested. Early in the com-* ing financial year, commencing April 1, the club Officials hope the Government will make available two light machined for training purposes, as has been dorte in other centres. The membership aimed at is a total of 600, flying members and members, The fee for flying members is £3 «V, and for members £2 2/. In addition to yearly revenue from membership fees, the club looks forward to a big return from the £4000 aviation art union recently authorised by the Government. The Auckland Aero Ciub'e art union, the general lines of which are being followed by the Wellington Club, brought in'a net profit of about £14,000. Dominion Air Lines, Ltd., Wellington, has ordered two Desoutter sports coupe aeroplanes—one for Hamilton Airways, Ltd., and the other for Mr. G. A. Nichoils, of Gisborne.