AIR PAGEANT

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 117, 13 November 1929, Page 13

AIR PAGEANT

AN EDUCATION

THE RONCOTAI DISPLAY

Interest in the air pageant at Rongotai, to be held on Saturday, or on Monday if the weather is unsuitable on Saturday, has seized all sections of the community, including tliose who. are always ready to offer suggestions of all kinds. There is every indication of a huge crowd, and all precautions are boing taken to safeguard the public from itself. Wing-Cominander Grant Dalton is giving'his valuable advice to the Wellington Aero Club, which is running the pageant, and nothing has been left undone that could be humanly foreseen to . ensure that safety will be the first consideration. The public enclosure will be roped off, and thoroughly patrolled by the Defence Department, the Navy, Legion of Frontiesmen, and Police, and school children will bo in the care of their teachers. "Stunting" will be done neither over the crowd nor over dwellings. Tho funds accruing to tho Wellington Aero Club from the admission charges will go towards the purchase of a second machine for the training of Wellington people who wish to learn to fly, so that those who patronise the pageant, and from the applications for tickets there will be thousands, will be actively assisting the city to take its part in promoting what is a most valuable civil asset to the country jn times of peace, and what may be an even more valuable art and possession in other circumstances. Seventeen machines will take part, and those who attend will have opportunities of seeing something entirely new. Few people have not seen an aeroplane aloft, but there are many who have not had the opportunity of seeing aeroplanes take off and land in their immediate vicinity, while few have seen massed flying manoeuvres in the air to say nothing of the startling "stunts" which may be expected.- The pageant should serve another useful purpose in showing the people in general to what an extent aviation has progressed in New Zealand, and Aat aerial services are to-day very nearly ,s certain, weatherexceptcd, as those of the ordinary service car. - *

Two thousand pamphlets will be dropped between 4.30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to-morrow afternoon by Captain M'Gregor, who will circle over tho city and suburbs. Fifty of these will carry the signature of the secretary of tho Wellington Aero Club, and tho finders may obtain a double. admission ticket for each of them by returning them to Mr. M' Arthur, care A. W. Gibson and Co., Ltd., Brandon street, by noon on Saturday.

The bombing from the air of the old concrete building at the bottonoof the aerodrome is expected to provide a spectacular event. Captain Gentry will supervise the operations. Though it is | not anticipated that tho concussion of the explosives will have unpleasant effects, house-holders within a mile or so are advised to keep all their windows open towards 5 o'clock, in order to avoid possible damage by the explosions. The Aero Club has made adequate arrangements for tho accommodation for 1000 cars. Seating accommodation will be provided for at least 4000 people.