MANGERE WELCOME

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 278, 23 November 1934, Page 8

MANGERE WELCOME

TWO TIRED MEN.

PLEASED, BUT UNEXCITED

CLUB MEMBER'S GREETING

One man. Mr. M. Buzio, a member of the Auckland Aero Club, was on the ground when the Faith in New Zealand landed at Mangere, and he was not greatly surprised to see the 'plane, despite the fact that it had been unofficial! v posted as missing. He rushed over to the machine, and greeted the men, who looked worn and very tired.

"They told me that they had no fears of the engine not bringing tliein here, said ilr. Buzio. "They had landed last

evening «it fi bench somewhere up north. They did not know which it was. As thev could find 110 place from which to telephone, they decided to stay the night there and push 011 at daybreak this morning. "The machine was looking trim, and they said that the engine did not give them the slightest trouble. They were very pleased with themselves, too, but, far from being excited, they were quite natural. They must have known that the machine would take them across.

A Meal and a Sleep. Meanwhile the ground stall had hurried to the hangar, near to which the machine had then been taxied, and the two men were escorted to the clubhouse, where tea and a light meal were immediately prepared. After this they were left for a short sleep at the clubhouse, while those at the aerodrome examined the machine. Everybody was exceedingly pleased* and enthusiastic.

It was obvious that some had expected to see considerable disarray inside the cockpit, but there was none. The cockpit was remarkably cramped, and an open container with malted milk tablets testified to the aeutcncss of the "housing pi'oblem," for the airmen smilingly remarked that they would not have had room for less concentrated food.

Mr. Buzio said that the interior fittings of the machine appeared to be entirely efficient, although some of them were unorthodox. "Too much has been said about these young people who do things which they are advised not to," he said. "If you study the two men who arrived this morning, particularly the record of Whitehead, you will realise that men like they are would not have undertaken such a flight without being sure that the machine would make the journeyi I was very pleased to see them, because it had been worrying me to think that men like that would be foolhardy about a flying venture.

"Every credit is duo to them for doing the Tasman crossing under such conditions, although they must have known before they left that there was sufficient space for good control, even if there was none to spare. Things inside were well fitted up, and obviously would withstand all that was necessary. I think they have shown great merit." Confident They Were Safe. Occasionally Mr. Buzio, an experienced pilot during and since the war, makes a trip to Mangore before going to his work in the morning. He sai'ct that this morning he had intended goiitg to Mange re, even before he knew the airmen were 011 their way. Having read that 110 word had been received of their arrival in New Zealand, he set out for the aerodrome. He felt certain that the 'plane had made a landing somewhere 011 the New Zealand coast, but lie did not necessarily expect them to turn up at Mangere. Nevertheless, he was not surprised when he heard the drone of the engine. Phe men had evidently made considerable allowance for the southward drift encountered on the recent Tasman crossing by Messrs. Hewett and Kay. and thus bad landed north of their objective.