AIR PAGEANT

Evening Star, Issue 21033, 22 February 1932, Page 2

AIR PAGEANT

THE SOUTH ISLAND MEETING

[Pkr United Press Association.]

INVERCARGILL, February 21. The South Island air pageant was held this year under the auspices of the Southland Aero Club at the Invercargill aerodrome; The weather was fine and clear, with bright sunshine, but a strong and gusty easterly wind made flying conditions somewhat difficult and necessitating some slight delay in the commencement of the programme. The aerodrome proved an ideal location for a pageant on a large scale. There was ample room for the planes to manoeuvre, and the crowd of spectators was able to obtain an excellent view of every ' part of the programme. The principal officials were; Judges—Squadron-leader T. M. Wilkes, Director of Air Services; Colonel James Hargest, M.P. for Invercargill; and Mr R. B. Bannewnan, of Gore; controller of events, Flight-lieutenant J. C. Mercer (Christchurch); announcer, Mr D. M. Stalker; clerk of the course, Flying Officer J. H. M. Smith. The attendance was estimated to be over 5,000, and visitors’ cars were so numerous that when parked several deep the line extended along two sides of the aerodrome, a distance of over half a mile. Almost every phase of aeronautics and aerobatics was featured in the pageant, racing, stunting, and landing competitions, parachuting, and novelty contests being included. A large variety of types of planes entered by clubs and private owners took part, but the Defence staff did not participate in the competitions. The following are the results:— SOUTHLAND DERBY. First Heat.—Mr C. M. Duthie (Wellington Aero Club) 1, Flying Officer E. G. Olson (Otago Aero Club) 2. Also competed: Mr A. 0. Jury (Wairarapa Aero Club). Time, smin 24 3-ssec. Second Heat. Flight-lieutenant T. W. White (New Zealand Airways) 1, Flying Officer J. M. Smith (Southland Aero Club) 2. Time, smin 41sec. —Final. — 0. M. Duthie 1 Flight-lieutenant White ... 2 As his machine had been damaged, Flying Officer Olson was unable to compete in the final. Mr Duthie and Flight-lieutenant White hung close together for the full distance, and Mr Duthie won narrowly. ■ Time, smin 41sec,

A License Landing Competition.— Mr D. Campbell (Otago Aero Club) 1, Mr S. Meatcham (Wellington Aero Club) 2, Mr E. Liverton (Wairarapa Aero Club) 3. Also competed: Pilot Officer S. L. Gilkison (Southland Aero Club), Mr P. Carran (Canterbury Aero Club), Mr P. C. Lewis (Auckland Aero Club), Mr W. K. Clark (New Zealand Airways). B License Landing Competition (for professional pilots).—Mr C. M. Duthie (Wellington Aerd Club) 1, Squadronleader M. C. Macgregor (Christchurch) 2, Flying Officer J. M. Smith (Southland Aero Club) 8. OBSTACLE RACE. First Heat.—Mr A. 0. Jury (Wairarapa Aero Club) 1, Flight-lieutenant W. Park (Otago Aero Club) 2, Mr S. Meatcham (Wellington Aero Club) 3. Mr Jury won by 200yds, Mr Meatcham being close behind in third place. Second Heat. Flight-lieutenant T. W. White (New Zealand Airways) 1, Flying Officer J. M. Smith (Southland Aero Club) 2. Flight-lieutenant White won by about 300yds. —Final.— Mr Jury 1 Flight-lieutenant White ... 2 Mr Jury had less trouble with his plane and got away first to win narrowly. Aerobatic Competiiton. Squadronleader Macgregor (Christchurch) and Flying Officer E. 6. Olson. (Otago Aero Club) tied for first place. Also competed: Flying Officer J. Buckenridge (Wairarapa Aero Club), Mr C. M. Duthie (Wellington Aero Club), Plying Officer J. M. Smith (Southland Aero Club). , Bombing the Baby.—Flight-lieuten-ant J. C. Mercer (Canterbury Aero Club) 1, Mr E, R. Bourchier (Auckland Aero Club) 2, Mr S. Meatcham (Wellington Aero Club) 3. A License Landing Competition.Mr G. Excell (Southland Aero Club) 1, Mr R. T. Strang (Canterbury Aero Club) 2. Mr Excell landed 26yds from the circle and Mr Strang 32yds.