OLDEST AIRCRAFT WINS

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31519, 6 November 1967, Page 1

OLDEST AIRCRAFT WINS

The Gipsy Moth was the oldest aircraft in the field of 11. None of the aircraft could fly much faster than 100 m.p.h. Thought to be the oldest aircraft flying in New Zealand today, the Gipsy Moth is one of three vintage aircraft—Rugby, Racing and Beer—owned by Mr Reader. He Is an air traffic controller in Palmerston North, and spends so much money on his hobby that his ground transport has to be an economical motor scooter.

Two Tiger Moths took second and third place in the 32-mile race. Second place went to Mr A. Wells of Nelson and third to Flight Lieutenant Gordon Ragg, flying an aircraft owned by a Wigram syndicate. Another of the competing aircraft, all of which were built before 1945, was an Auster recovered 18 months ago from the bush where it had crashed in Marlborough. Its pilot, Mr G. Richards, of Windwhistle, bought it for 10c and recovered it from the bush by helicopter. He repaired it and obtained its certificate of ail-worthiness only three days ago. Band Played As the leading old-timers completed their second and final lap of the course from Wigram to Lincoln and back, the Royal New Zealand Air Force band played “Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines.” The air race, sponsored by Rothmans (N.Z.), Ltd, was one of the highlights of one of the most entertaining aviation displays ever seen in Christchurch. Earlier, the R.N.Z.A.F. airborne rescue team of eight parachutists had made a mass drop from a Dakota to “rescue” two injured servicemen. All volunteers from Auckland, they were men with such useful experience for emergencies as mountaineering and underwater swimming. When they had attended to the injured an orange smoke signal summoned an Iroquois helicopter which lowered a man on a nylon rope, together with a stretcher. Both the injured were winched up and lifted into the hovering helicopter. The whole work took less than 15 minutes. Mass Drop A second mass parachute drop of 10 men landed to clear the parachutes, and prepare for a novel display of “para-sailing." Using a special parachute, a man was towed along the ground at the end of 600 ft nylon cable pulled by a utility Vehicle.

His long-striding legs soon left the ground, and the parachute gently bore him up to about 100 ft—whence he floated back to earth. One of the most breathtaking events of the day was the Canterbury Sky Diving Club’s exhibition of free-fall jumping and baton changing. The parachutists jumped from 7200 ft, delaying their parachutes for 30 seconds. They aimed to land on a 6in disc. Several landed on their feet with hardly a stumble. Light Rain

The spectators had a feast of aerobatics, first from the Canterbury and Wigram Gliding Clubs, then from the R.N.Z.A.F. Harvard team—the “Red Chequers” in their maroon flying suits —and finally from a flight of Vampire jets. Also in the air was a variety of civil aircraft and Air Force Devons, Canberras, an Orion and a Hercules. Weather was overcast but fine for most of the programme, deteriorating to a light rain towards the end. At that stage many of the crowd moved into the hangars to see the extensive static display.

They inspected ancient and modern aero engines, saw a 1929 Spartan aircraft from Temuka and watched the techniques of parachute folding. Also on display were armaments, gunsights, an ejection seat, safety equipment, and a one-eighth scale model of a Hercules built by carpenters at the R.N.Z.A.F. station, Hobsonville. By Helicopter

At the official opening, the Mayor (Sir George Manning) recalled the great strides made in aviation since the First World War. Sir George Manning paid a tribute to the foresight and benevolence of Sir Henry Wigram, whose gift of £lO,OOO had helped the Government acquire the airfield for the Air Force. Sir George Manning arrived at Wigram by helicopter from Hagley Park. The anniversary display was also attended by local body and Government representatives, and representatives of the other armed services.

The picture showa Mr Reader’s Gipsy Moth approaching the finishing line.