Aerobatic pilot seeks air fare to Britain

Press, 3 July 1985, Page 2

Aerobatic pilot seeks air fare to Britain

A North Canterbury man, Simon Spencer-Bower, has only two weeks to raise the money for his return air fare to Britain to represent New Zealand at an international aerobatic competition using Tiger Moth aircraft. The competition is to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the De Havilland Moth and has been organised by the British De Havilland Moth Club in association with the British Aerobatic Association and the De Havilland Moth Clubs of Australia, the United States, South Africa, and New Zealand. The World Vintage Aerobatic Championships will be held next month and were to have been sponsored by Christies of London. Mr Spencer-Bower said yesterday that he had only recently learned that the organisers would be able to provide only an aircraft in Britain and accommodation for the week before the competition. Air fares to

Britain will now not be provided. “This has presented me with a major problem as there is very little time available in which to raise money for the fare. My departure date needs to be the last week in July, as the championships are to be held on August 17 and 18,” Mr Spencer-Bower said. He has written to airlines, breweries and the Tourist and Publicity Department seeking sponsorship for his own fares. Mr SpencerBower intends to pay himself for the fares of his wife and son, who will accompany him. “I am representing New Zealand and it would be a shame if we were in the position where we could not do that because of the lack of funds,” Mr SpencerBower said. If the money is not raised within the next two weeks, Mr Spencer-Bower said his participation in the competition would be in jeopardy.