EAGLES OF THE AIR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 285, 1 December 1934, Page 1 (Supplement)

EAGLES OF THE AIR.

WHILST the world is _ still acclaiming tlie magnificent flights made by each and every entrant in the recent Centenary air race, it seems fitting that a tribute bo paid the splendid achievement of our own New Zealand airmen. Their flight in the comparatively small 'plane Taimii will long be remembered as . one of the epic stories in the history of aviation in this country. Overnight Captain Hewett has soared in New Zealanders' estimation to the ranks of a national hero, and, realising that young "Star" readers ar,e one and all air-minded, and keenly interested in this popular aviator, your Editor on a recent sunny morning deserted his office for the pleasure of an hour in Mr. Hewett's company. He found a busy, friendly and enthusiastic airman, busily engaged in plans for his forthcoming tour of New Zealand, yet nevertheless not too pressed for time to pen the friendly message to our readers which appears on this page. "It was a great adventure," Captain Hewett agreed, when the subject of the race was introduced. "A great adventure; I'd tackle it again tomorrow." Just that! No mention of the tremendous difficulties faced and overcome; of adverse weather conditions, and the precautions taken against a crash in the Timor Sea; no mention of delays and forced landings, of storms and air currents —of the fatigue and anxiety of that epic flight. Just a plain straight-out statement, "I'd tackle it again to-morrow."

I Flashing out of the sky like a fiery particle, Tvith the roar I of its engines merging into a tumult of cheering, the D.H. \ Dragon 'plane Tainui, on the 14th of last month, reached | New Zealand shores, bearing the popular and national 1 air heroes', Captain Hexvett and his co-pilot Flying's Officer Kay,

Captain Hewett believes that willi the inaugural race over, and now tliat it fs possible for organisers to gauge more easily the difficulties and problems which must arise, it is only a matter of time before air races -such as the famous Centenary one will becomo a triennial event. Already arrangements are under way for a national air race in France, and a similar race is planned for America early in 1935. But whether or not these come to pass, the historic nature of the recent race, and its influence on the future of aviation, must surely be recognised as incalculable. "Aviation is the coming thing," Mr. Hewett said, and he believes there is a preat future in it for New Zealand lads. His own family all display a keen interest in flying, his son particularly giving indication of following in his father's footsteps. He lias been up in the Tainui frequently and taken the controls, but does not as yet bold an A certificate. "By far the worst part of the trip was the flight over Australia," Mr.

} el*—*C tfiu* 6/i^e.

From the pen of Captain .T. D. Hcwett comes a, personal message to every boy and girl in New Zealand. We hope yon will take from his words encouragement to follow in the trail which has been so ably blazed by the pioneers of 193 i,

Captain Hewetfs Message to Young New Zealanders.

~*"1 Hewett said, when describing tlie groat I race. "Tlio country is vast and fca- ! tureless, and it is possible to fly for : hundreds of miles without realising { one is off the track. We were all lost I up there." { To leave for a moment the race j itself and generalise, it seems strange i to reflect at a time when all else is "" ' taking second place to the recordsmashing achievements of these Centenary airmen that scarce 25 years have passed since an astounded world read with wonder of Bleriot's flight across the English Channel. Twenty-five years! And a few weeks ago from Suffolk in England a little fleet of 20 'planes set off on an amazing race half way round the world. But even while saluting their valour, while recognising the qualities of courage and daring and endurance that must go hand in hand with their skill as airmen,* tribute must be paid to that glorious band of men and women—the pioneers of aviation—from Bleriot of 25 years ago to the ocean defying airmen of to-day. They have each and all played a gallant part in man's conquest of the air—they have faced peril and death in the cause of aviation. Without their triumphs an air race such as the recent Centenary race could never have been dreamed of. Captain Hewett's recent Tasman crossing brings to this country memories of earlier flights, when pioneer 'planes have spanned the distance between Australian and New Zealand shores; it brings a memory of the first tragic attempt in 1928, when the gallant Captain Hood and Lieutenant

Moncrieif crashed in their 'plane the Aotearoa and were never seen again; of Guy Menzies' sensational solo flight in 1931, and Mr. Chichester's more leisurely crossing via Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands in the same year. It brings memories of "Smithy's" many flights, and of Lieutenant Ulni's record crossing earlier this year in his 'plane Faith in Australia* A gallant band, and to these, as a tribute to his memory, we link one other name —the name of the Auckland flyer Mr. H. D. Gilman, for whom the Centenary race brought a lonely grave 'midst the mountains and plains of faraway Italy. And surely it is fitting that this brief survey of Tasman aviators close with the names of our Centenary air race heroes, Captain Hewett and Flying-Officer Kay, who raced a great race fairly, and squarely, facing dangers and hazards, overcoming colossal difficulties, and in the end, like' true New Zealanders, winning through.