DEPARTURE DELAYED

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 199, 20 May 1936, Page 13

DEPARTURE DELAYED

■■ 4" Tail-skid of Chichester’s Plane Broken TO GO NORTH TO-MORROW J’lios'* i«u air-minded travellers. Mr. Chichester and Mr. F. D. Herrick, are now to leave Wellington to-mor-row for Auckland, on the first stage of their journey to London, via the East and Siberia. They may return to Wellington before setting out. but the Puss Moth machine will not. it. will be overhauled at Auckland, and will be shipped thence to Sydney, probably by th e Wanganella on .Time 19. when the airmen anticipate sailing. The departure for 1 lie north was to have taken place to-day, but a slight mishap yesterday, the breaking of the tail-skid compression-spring, caused the postponement of the journey, and the cancellation of a proposed flight to Nelson accompanied by Mr. G. D. M. Goodwin. The two airmen were both at Rangotai yesterday morning, when Mr. Cmchester made several short flights over city, harbour and hills. A number of their friends visited the aerodrome, and took the opportunity to go up, before the airmen set out on their adventurous flight. Among those who flew over Wellington in the blue-and-silver monoplane were Professor G. W. Von Zedlitz, Mr. Ashley Duncan, Miss Egitlia Menzies and George Chichester. The pilot’s 10-year-old son made his first flight and was greatly thrilled by it. All enjoyed their “flips,” although conditions were slightly humpy, owing to the cold northerly wind. When Mr. Chichester was taxi-ing downwind to take off on the last of these flights, the compression-spring supporting the tail skid snapped. It proved on inspection to have had a bad flaw in the metal, so that for some time it must have been lacking in strength. Through the gusty wind the pilot had to taxi down fairly fast, and when he came to the rough ground on th® south side of the field the mishap occurred. The metal shoe on the foot of the skid was also torn off. Although only a very minor mishap, the damage to the skid prevented the Nelson flight, as rio spare part of this nature was available at Rongotai. Efforts are being made io obtain one from the Wairarapa Aero Club, and it is probable that the machine will he in the air again Ibis afternoon and will be able to leave to-morrow for Auckland. Piel tires on Page 9.