AIR PAGEANT AT HAREWOOD

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27614, 22 March 1955, Page 9

AIR PAGEANT AT HAREWOOD

CROWD OF ABOUT . 10,000 ATTEND u,A •crowd ,of about 10,000 went to 4wewooa airport on Sunday afternoon J? dec Ml air pageant organised by the JufW’SJ 4 j£ ways Corporation's flying clulvwith the Canterbury Aero Club. 2f„,l he -UTfield. Seventeen aircraft, ranging in size from Tiger Moths to “'■iiners, took part, and about 14 of the Canterbury Model Aero —suns models were on display. Joyrides over Christchurch were one ot the most popular forms of entertainment Passengers queued in Jong lines to board the two DC-3’s, which were kept hard at work all the afternoon, and the three'Austers and one e ¥« n 8 er ' Ught aircraft, were Similarly busy. Only once was there any disorganisation, and then-that was c °ntrolled: Pl7in ? Club, flew low ?'$T the field spraying a shower of toffees on to the grass in front of the crowd. Children swarmed out in a great rush, gathered the sweets, and b? c k to their parents. Owners Of model aircraft, in the middle of the Tush, showed slight alarm for a "few seconds, but the interval passed off smoothly. of P a Bcant enjoyed a very fuji programme. Aerobatics are essential and yesterday the capabilities or both powered aircraft and sailgr tor of the Aero Club, and Mr F. M. Dunn, chief instructor to the Canterbury Gliding Club, "threw the book” at toe crowd. Thousands craned their necks to watch Mr Neave twirl his A V^ er trough a series qf loops, loops with rolls at the top, slow rolls, upward rolls, power rolls, cartwheels, and stall turns. (

Ihe sailplanes were very impressive. R. Georgeson in his German-built Weihe; Mr Dunn and Mr W. Small, tur ? the 11011 Bab y and the trainer, showed toe crowd bow loops are done on no more power than gravity and toe lift of toe air. The gliders’ low runs over the crowd, smooth and utterly silent, were most effective; . Parachutists made three jumps during toe pageant. No air display in New Zealand would be complete without a demonstration of aerial topdressing in its several forms. A Cessna from Airwork (N.Z.), Ltd.. flew over the field to drop a load of superphosphate and a Piper Agricultural Cub, from the same company, later m ade a number of runs over the field to show how crops are sprayed.