AVIATOR IN COURT

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 96, 20 October 1931, Page 8

AVIATOR IN COURT

MANOEUVRES OVER CITY

A CHARGE DISMISSED

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) t WANGANUI, 19th October.

Charged with carrying on trick or exhibition flying over the City of Wanganui, Captain Leslie Harold Brake pleaded not guilty at the Police Court to-day. The Magistrate dismissed the case, saying that he hoped it would be a warning that trick flying over the city was au offence. In evidence, the Key. C. F. Pieiee, headmaster of the Wanganui Collegiate School, said that on the afternoon of 22nd August sports were being held at the school when an aeroplane flew over the grounds and tho noise of the engine had annoyed him. He could not state whether it was high or low. , , ~ J. Alien, master of the school, said that he had noticed the aeroplane, which had dipped low over the grounds. It was not over the spectators, and he could not estimate the height. , • Constable O'Brien said he had interviewed Captain Brake, who stated that he had flown over the school grounds and passed over to Springvale. Later he had looped over the open country, but had been careful not to stunt over the city. Mr. Paul said he had watched the flight of the aeroplane and had seen the loop. It must have been at a considerable height to have been observed from the airport. Plight-Lieutenant Sydney Gibbons said that it was easy for a layman to make an error in the distance an aeroplane was away when it was at the height of 3000 ft. He said that it required no special skill for a qualified pilot to loop the loop, and he would not call looping at 3000 ft stunting. Captain Brake was a careful pilot and never took risks. . . In dismissing the case, the Magistrate (Mr. J. H. Salmon) said that neither of tho witnesses for the prosecution spoke, of trick-flying, and an aeroplane was entitled to fly over the college football ground provided no trick or exhibition flying was done. _^____^_^^_