AIR PAGEANT

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21117, 19 March 1934, Page 12

AIR PAGEANT

; SOUTH ISLAND FIXTURE [•'INE DISPLAY AT HOKITIKA i ,;fIU.C, TU TBI rstss., ' GREYMOUTH. March 13. : More than 3000 persons from all parts :cu the West Coast attended the South ; Island air pageant, under the ausoices jof the West Coast Federated Aero ! Club, on the Soiithside aerodrome, ! Hokitika, yesterday. Twenty acroj planes from both the North Island and j the South Island took part and gave | a spectacular display, i It was the firs! time that the We.4 : Coast had had the opportunity of scc- ! mg so many aeroplanes in action, and | the large attendance indicated the mI forest with winch aviation is followed | bv the West Coast people. The aeroI drome proved suitable tor so many ! aeroplanes, and competitions on the I programme were carried out success- ! tully. | Ihe use o! smoke flares in a mock I aerial combat between. Mr G. 13. Bolt land Mr J. C. Mercer provided a thrill, | Bolt's machine sweeping m a spiral bei hind some trees, apparently to tile ] ground. The radio announcer, for the 'sake of excitement, stated that the ma- ! chine had crashed, but all fears were I r.llayccl when in less than a minute the aeroplane reappeared. Bolt also thrilled the crowd with a spectacular display of crazy tlymg. Royal New Zealand Air Force machines were seen in excellent formation living.

Mi- G. Spence. president of the New Zealand Aero Club, al;er congratulating the West Coast Club on the success of the pageant, said that from the point of view of public policy the proVision of a chain of landing grounds such as the various West Coast aero clubs were planning was oi national importance. No part of ;\ew Zealand lent itself to a more practical use for aeroplanes, and in cases of emergency many West Coast districts were really dependent on aerial transport. In his opinion, Sir Charles Kings-ford-Smith could easily have landed at Hokitika, and the speaker had actually seen him kind on a smaller area at 'New Plymouth. Mr Spei ee stated that he considered that the Hokitika aerodrome would, when the intended development works had been earned cut. be ideal.

Results of Competitions Results of competitions were: All Transport Race, including bicycle riding, whoel'oarow pushing, and Hying--P. McGalhn ' Palmer/ton North'. Molli, 1; Adams 'Canterbury!, Moth, I'. Senior Landing Competition, open to B and A endorsed-hcense pilots' - Walker < Palrnerston North), Moth. 1; A. H. Naneckivell i iTokitikao, Spartan, 2: Anderson 'Wellington', Moth, M. Junior Landing Competition, open to A endorsed-lieense holders - -P. McGadin (Palrnerston North >, Moth, 1: Hull (Wairarapai. Moth, 2: Miss H. Montgomery (Canterbury). Moth. .3. Acrobatic Competition Walker i.Palmerstuii North". Molli, 1; Hull tWairur;l.a>. Moth. '-!. Land ing Competition. one entry each club, open .'. C. Mercer tCanteiburvi, Moth. 1; G. !■!. Pol!, i Wellington ), Moth. 2: M. C. McGregor (Palmer.-ton North'. Moth. '■': Also competed: Duffy i Uunedii;'. Moth; I.uckcridgo i Wairarapa >. Molli; Nancekivell (Hokitika', Spartan: Mathieson 'Hokitika). Redwing. Points in the "New Zealand Herald" Cup for the most points in the competitions have not been assessed. The navigation le.-l lor the "New Zealand Herald" Irophv was contested bv three pilots. Ne.-bilt 'Wellington', McGaflin ' Pa'merston North', and i Anderson 'Wellington!. 'I he points in i 1 his. 100. have to be as: e-scd.

Accident to Machine While landing a' Waiim ,\ .\-loniny morning a Canterbury Aero Club's Moth, Diluted bv Me.s !l. Montgomery, with Mi.-s R. W\nn-Wi!ham . .is pasenger. struck a lock. The undercarriage was damaged and the machine wa:-- ptvveu'.od from taking part in the pageant. Neither vz-pmaii was injured. The aeroplane will be brought to Hokitika bv lorry, and mas he iepaired on bv We ;t Cua.-t. Mi-s Mm,lgomery and Mis.-. W; ne.-Williams cam" to Hokitika in anoihor machine. M: - Montgomery competed at Ike pageant AEROPLANES RETERN TO WIGRAM T! , ( . r, i;K - Rev,.! New Zealand Air Force aeroplanes which took part as Ihe pageant at Hokitika returned to Wigram Aerodrome yesterday afternoon, after a splendid Might from the We-I Coast. The pilots were Kliglil Lieutenants M. W. Hockley. V. .1. Somerset-Thonias. 11. B. Burrcll. and K W. .1 Hall. Clouds were met during the Might on the Wet Coa-I side of the ranges, but above them, at about 700(1 tcct. conditions were ideal. The Canterbury Aero Club aeroplanes which went to Hokitika will probably return to-day. With other pilots who took part in Ihe page.in!, the Canterbury livers yesterday went down I" Wail'ie, to v;.-it Ihe Fran/. Josef glacier. Klevi u aeroplanes, took part in the trip from Hokitika.