'PLANES ARRIVING

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 119, 15 November 1929, Page 12

'PLANES ARRIVING

. ALL PLANS COMPLETE

WEATHER EVERYTHING

If the first big air pageant in New Zealand is not a success, it will not be because of careful preparation down to the smallest detail, nor because of lack of sympathetic assistance, not to say enthusiasm, from every section of the community. The weather is all that can now interfere with a thoroughlyplanned display of aerial tactics ■ and skill on a scale never previously seen in this country, and Wellington citizens are fortunate that it is being held at their own airport. Motorists will be ■well advised to arrive early, owing to the closing of sections of the streets and roads that would ordinarily be available for parking, and it will help the officials iv keeping things in order if everyone is in place on the grounds punctually.

The programme is a fairly long one, and it will be got off strictly to time. The official opening is timed for 1.50 p.m., when the Mayor (Mr. G. A. Troup) will speak and then take off on the first official flight in Captain M'Gregor's Moth. This will be only a short flight. Then follows a parade of the 'planes, which will taxi round the aerodrome. This will raise a dust, and it is likely that only one machine of each type will parade, typifying the Gloster Grebe, Gypsy Moth, .AvroAvian, and Simmons Spartan machines. The first event will be a landing competition, in which the 'planes will take off in order, gain 1000 ft altitude, and come down by throttling the engine and gliding to land as near the centre of the target circle as.possible. Low flight bombing, in which flour bags will take the place of explosives, will follow. Formation flying is a thing that needs a certain amount of practice, and for this reason it is unlikely that all the competitors will take part. Competitors will fly in V formation, and in line abreast, and will end by following each other in a circle.

The greatest interest^will, no doubt, be in the Wellington Aerial Derby over a course of over ten miles, two circuits of the course' being necessary. A large entry is anticipated, and it may be necessary, in view of the cheeks on the course taken, to run heats. There is every likelihood that the aerial battle will take place while the Derby is being finished.

One of the most interesting and difficult races is the slow race timed for 4.30. p.m., the 'planes to fly into the wind keeping an altitude of between 500 and 600 ft. The last over the lino wins. Estimating heights of aeroplanes from the ground is one of the most deceiving pastimes imaginable. 'Planes which look quite close' down are half a mile up. The height estimating competition; with valuable prizes. ■will; no doubt, intrigue everyone.

The "stunting at 5 o'clock will combine many thrilling features, probably by a Gloster Grebe. The most spectacular ev,gnt will, it is hoped, be the bombing of the old house at the southern end of the aerodrome from a height of 2000 ft, which will be carried out by three Moths. "BUCKETTY" CONDITIONS. Pilots did not experience the worst of flying conditions in .making their way' here to-day, but wind was evidently much more severe a few thousand feet up than at ground level, and the crossings made over Cook Strait were somewhat "bueketty." Unless the wind moderates this afternoon the distribution of pamphlets arranged will probably be put off. Captains J. C. Mercer, N. H. Barlow, Miss Aroha Clifford, and Mr. D. E. Grigg arrived from Canterbury, and Captain Chandler and Miss Pauline Bennett from Marlborongh, all iii Moths. The aviators who are here ,to-night- will be entertained by the United Services Club, and the lady pilots, accompanied by lady members of the Wellington Aero Club, will be entertained by Messrs. J. C. Williamson. If the weather is unsuitable for flying, a four-flag signal will be flown on Mount Victoria at 11 a.m. to-morrow, and other signals will bo shown on the • Town Hall and Post Office. MORE ARRIVALS. .Captains M'Gregor and Gibbons, of the Hamilton Airways, Ltd., arrived this afternoon in Gypsy Moths. They had a passenger, each. Both report a very good trip'after leaving Hamilton, except that conditions were a little bumpy, when reaching Wellington. Everywhere else the weather was good-. "A good trip, but pretty gusty, and quite gusty for the landing," said Captain N. E. Chandler, in charge of the Marlborough Aero Club team, of the 30-xninute trip across the Strait to-day. He was accompanied by Miss Bennett, Blenheim's lady pilot, who took the controls for the sea stretch of the journey.