CROWD WATCHES FLYING

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21175, 28 May 1934, Page 12

CROWD WATCHES FLYING

I - ♦ ? ! SUCCESSFUL DAY AT « WIGRAM I _ ORGANISED BY \t AERO CLUB '■ In its attempt yesterday to show the public something of its work, the Canterbury Aero Club succeeded admirably A crowd of approximately 40UU went to Wigram Aerodrome to see the efficiency competition for the P y civen bv the president, Mr J. C. « U1 nesT As additional attractions an exhibition of stunt and "azyflyn^ was given by Mr R. A. Kir p, Leading Aircraftsman W. Dj,nissmal monoplane was taken up. Three cluo jnachines did brisk business giving I'he competition was organised by Mr' Guinness to test the efficiency o 'club-trained pilots. It will be held in-sections throughout the year, and will be awarded on an aggregate of points at the end of that time. Yesterday the bombing section was decided, and although several visiting cars were hit by the bombs the crowd appreciated this event. The target •was a double chalked circle on the aerodrome, and the marksmanship ■with the bombs—paper bags filled with 1 flour—was fair. D. E. Gngg was 'placed first, with J. R. Maling second, • and Miss N. Eowntree third. . The bombing competition, with trie «machines sweeping low over the crowd, was a spectacular part of the programme, but more exciting still i: was the bombing of a motor-car cai - ried out by Mr Kirkup. This event 'twas most popular with the crowd, -iwhose sympathies seemed to be uehndtely on the side of the aeroplane. ftThere were loud cheers on the several occasions on which the car was hit, iitjtie cloud of flour giving a most realistic. impression of a bomb. ; Mr Kirkup later took up one of the 'club Moths for an exhibition of stunt flying, and gave a performance that thoroughly satisfied the crowd. Ho I looped and rolled, and did a series of stalled turns that were most effective. '"When the afternoon began to grow "chilly as the sun sank, he amused the departing spectators by diving on them and swooping near to the ground.

Cabin Machine Popular .Throughout the afternoon, Mr J. C. Mercer had a busy time with the club s Fox-Moth cabin machine. He was in the air just as soon as he could put down one lot of passengers and take ■ on another, and had to turn down several prospective clients. Many ox the spectators booked up flights for later on. The Fox took up more than 60 passengers in the afternoon. Two other club Moths, while not in use m the competitions or for the other demonstrations, were in demand for joy rides, and more than 20 passengers were taken up in this way. A great attraction was the stunt passenger fly- _ jng, which drew a number of passengers. . ... - Leading Aircraftsman Dim and his machine formed a centre of attraction , the whole afternoon. The little mono- ' r>lahe was rebuilt by its owner from i',the wreck of another machine, and is J' very appropriately named the Phoenix, fit is an excellent piece of workmanship, and behaves very well in the air. Sir Bruce Stewart, who was one of 1 the judges of the competition, flew sover in his Puss Moth from Pigeon !,'Bay, His machine was another of the ■j attractions of the day.