AMONG SNOW PEAKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 11, 14 January 1935, Page 3

AMONG SNOW PEAKS.

DUKE'S AERIAL VIEW

SOUTHERN LAKE SCENERY

INVERCARGILL, Sunday. Making his first aeroplane Ilight i New Zealand, the Duke of Glouceste in a Puss Moth service machine pilot by Flight-Lieutenant M. YV. Buck!;. flew for two hours this morning ov. the lakes and mountains of Southlan The weather was almost ideal for fly in and held so until the return j )itrue\ when a strong westerly head wind v. a encountered.

The Duke, who, like the pilot, did no wear a parachute, was delhhtcd wit' the flight, particularly as it affordc. him an opportunity to obtain a bird's eye view of home of the places wliicl lay in a portion of the country con cealed from his Southland route.

The flying route followed by His Royal Highness took a rectangular course from the Southland Aero Club's aerodrome, across the mountain tops towards Lake Manapouri, thence to Lake Te Anau, and over the beautiful Eglington Valley to Lake Wakatipu. Most of the mountain peaks were visible, and the Prince, who took his camera with him, had an unrivajled view of the snow peaks of Mount Aspiring. 9000 ft high.

An extensive cloud bank hanging like a pall obscured the anticipated sight of the Sounds. The maximum height reached during the flight was a little over 0000 ft. Flight-Lieutenant Buckley made a perfect landing, but pulled up almost on top of a smouldering motor tyre, the smoke from which was used as a wind indicator. There was no risk of the aeroplane catching lire, however, as it passed over the spot, which was a blind one to the pilot.

The members of the Duke's suite also spent the morning in flying service machines. His equerry, Captain Sehroiber, with Captain Tweedio as a passenger, piloted a local Fox Moth.

AIR MAIL FOR DUKE

FLOWN TO INVERCARGILL.

INVERCARGILL, Sunday. Landed in Auckland yesterday morning, English air mail for the Duke of Gloucester was opened and read by His Royal Highness in InvercargiH at 7.-1-) o'clock last evening.

The mail, which contained letters and several packages, left London on December 22, and was delivered at Auckland by the Mariposa at 0.35 yesterday morning. It was picked up at 9.40 by Flight-Lieutenant Wallingford, after having been taken to the Mangcrc aerodrome by motor car. and was flown posthaste to InvercargiH.

The trip was uneventful and occupied eight and a half hours of actual flying time. Refuelling stops were made at Palmerston North, and the Wigram aerodrome, Christehurch. Slight head winds were encountered most of the way. The fieroplane arrived at InvercargiH at 7.30 and* the mail was taken by motor to the Royal train at Waikiwi, being delivered to His Royal Highness within a few minutes of its arrival.