"AVIATION WEEK" ENDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 283, 30 November 1931, Page 10

"AVIATION WEEK" ENDS.

EVENING AT AERODROME. NIGHT FLYING AND FIREWORKS. A fireworks display and an exhibition of night flyi'ig . carried out at the Mangere aerodrome on Saturday night marked the conclusion of "Aviation Week, , ' arranged by the Auckland Aero Club. A crowd of some 6000 people witnessed the spectacle, and though rain fell heavily just when the programme was about to start, the night thereafter was fine, if cloudy, and events were carried out to schedule.

The club instructor, Mr. D. M. Allan, piloted a machine which carried red and green navigation lights and a white taillight, while there was also a small light in the cockpit to enable the flyer to see the instruments. The portion of the ground near the hangar was crowded with cars, -and at the southern end of the ground a line of cars was packed into the wind with their lights switched on. The lights on the 'plane made it plainly visible to the crowd beneath. Prizes in the competition held on the pilot instructor machine imported by the Vacuum Oil Co., Pty.> Ltd., were presented \ Iby the president of the club, Mr. Spencer Mason. Mr. K. B. Robinson, of Bombay, was awarded the flying scholarship, Mr. M. B. McKennie, second, won the radio prize, while Miss Joyce Davidson, third, received a gramophone. The second and third prizes, awarded by the Farmers' Trading Company, wer.e presented by Mrs. Mason.

The fireworks display was excellent, some unusual features arousing considerable interest. A dance was held later in the clubhouse, wheTe Mr. A* C. Sheil, aviation officer of the Vacuum Oil Co., was presented with a cigarette case in appreciation of his aid in organising "Aviation Week." Reference was also made to the work of the (secretary of the club, Mr. L. W. Swan.