BUSINESS TRIPS BY AEROPLANE

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 63, 8 December 1936, Page 10

BUSINESS TRIPS BY AEROPLANE

North Island Tour By Two Wellington Men UNUSUAL EXPERIENCE OF SOUTH ISLANDER A business trip which will cover most of the North Island in four days was begun yesterday when Messrs. H. C. Walker (pilot) and John M. Gamble, of Wellington, left in the Miles Hawk Trainer machine of the Wellington Aero Club on an aerial tour which is to include Hastings, Gisborn, Auckland, New Plymouth, Wanganui, and Palmerston North. This is the first cross-country trip of the new machine, which was given its test Hights only last week. As it is of the same type as those which are to be imported for issue on loan to aero clubs for pupil training, it is expected that its appearance will attract considerable interest at aerodromes visited on the flight.

Mr. Walker was co-pilot with the late Squadron Leader M. C. McGregor in a similar machine in the centenary air race from Mildenhall to Melbourne in 1934, and the engine in the present machine is the one which bore them half-way round the world in time which broke, all records for light aeroplane flights from England to Australia. The engine was taken from the original Miles Hawk when it was damaged in a forced landing and installed after thorough overhaul in the new machine imported to Wellington. The aerial travellers proposed to visit Palmerston North, Hastings, arfd Gisborne yesterday, spend to-day in Auckland, call at New Plymouth, Wanganui, and Palmerston North to-mor-row, spend to-morrow night in Palmerston North, and return to Wellington on Thursday. Father’s Sermon Heard in Plaue. One of three business men from Christchurch who used the Canterbury’ Aero Club’s Monospar machine to attend the turning of the first sod tor the erection of the stand-by plant of the hydro-electric scheme at Stoke, Nelson, had an unusual experience on the flight back to Christchurch on Sunday. Mr. E. H. S. Hamilton, chairman of the directors of the company operating the plant, was handed the headphones with which the radio set of the machine is fitted so that he could listen in to Christchurch. 'He immediately recognised a familiar voice. It was that of Canon Staples Hamilton, his father, preaching at St. Mary’s, Merivale. The aeroplane was then just nearing Kaikoura. EAST COAST AIRWAYS RESUMES By Telegraph—Press Association. Gisborne, December 7. After being suspended since March owing to reconstruction work on the Gisborne aerodrome, the East Coast Airways service between Gisborne and Nanier was resumed this piorning. The company also inaugurated an air-mail service. •