AIR RACE PLANE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 98, 20 January 1936, Page 5

AIR RACE PLANE

Sold to Wellington Aero Club McGREGOR’S MILES HAWK Dominion Special Service. Palmerston North, January 18. The Mauawatu Aero Club’s Miles Hawk aeroplane which put up such a great performance in the centenary air race when piloted by Squadron Leader M. C. McGregor, D.F.C., aud Mr. H; C. AValker, has been sold to the AVellington Aero Club for £750. The smallest machine in the race, the Miles Hawk made history by reaching Darwin in 5 days 15 hours, a record for light aircraft. It had also set up a light aircraft record for the distance England to India. The engine is a 130 h.p. Gipsy’ Major, and the makers’ rate the cruising speed at 13G miles an hour, while the top speed is about 150 miles per hour. Mauawatu enthusiasts and business men guaranteed the money to finance the entry of the plane in the race, pending completion of an art union authorised by the Government. Due to the fact that the first prize was only £2OO. the art union brought in only a third of the estimated amount, aud on the return of the flyers; they toured New Zealand to raise the necessary money to keep the plane for the Manawatn club. This, however, did - not meet with marked financial success, and the Hawk has been stored in the Milson aerodrome hangar for over 12 months as security for the guarantors’ money. Financial circumstances have now forced the sale of this famous machine.