First Flight 44 Years Ago

Press, Volume C, Issue 29681, 27 November 1961, Page 17

First Flight 44 Years Ago

Early in the morning of: November 26, 1917, a Caudron biplane rolled across the grass at Sockburn and rose into the air for an eight-minute training flight. TTie pupil was Mr H. D. Christie, shown above, who flew soio after

two hours’ dual instruction. The 44th anniversary of that event was celebrated yesterday when Mr Christie went for a flight in a Canterbury Aero Chib Tri-Pacer aircraft. When Mr Christie learned

to fly before going to England to join the Royal Flying Corps, flying was a fairly hazardous oocupetion because there was only about 10 miles an hour difference between flying and stalling speed. The planes were equipped with very few instruments and a great deal depended on the judgment of the pilot.

The first flight in the plane of toe Canterbury Aviation Company, Ltd., began a long association wito aviation for Mr Christie. He is a life member of the Canterbury Aero Club and was preaident of toe club from 1046 to 1963. From 1947 to 1954 he was president at toe Royal New Zealand Aero dub.

The plane in which Mr Christie learned to fly was powered by a 45 horse-power engine. In those days aircraft were grounded if there was a wind much irbove five miles an hour and flights rarely exceeded 10 minuet. He was toe twenty-second pupil of toe flying school to obtain his licence. He held a pilot’s licence for about 41 years and it was only three years ago that he did not re-

new the licence because of his health. “Aviation has been much more than a hobby for me,” said Mr Christie before taking off yesterday with the club’s chief instructor, Mr I. H.

Gunderoen. “I’ve made friends all over the world through my interest in flying and I still maintain an active interest in anything dealing with the expansion of aviation.

“I am pleased to see the great expansion made by aero club* throughout New Zealand. and particularly the Canterbury club," Mr Christie said. Two of Mr Christie’s instructors at the Canterbury Aviation Company, Ltd., flying school were the late Messrs C. M. HiU and J. C. Mercer.