FORGED LANDING
NEW AEROPLANE DAMAGED ABORTIVE LOAD TEST [Pau United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, April 1. Damage to under-carriage, wings, and both propellers of one of the new Do Havilland Dragon aeroplanes imported for the Gisborne-Napier air service was caused when a forced landing was made daring load tests at Hobsonvillc to-day. The pilot was Squadron-leader T. W. White. Both he and *the only passenger were unhurt. The other craft carried out load and climbing tests successfully -before the damaged machine took off. Sandbags representing the weight of passengers were distributed over the floor and the craft left the ground, but it was found impossible to clear some power lines, and the pilot landed in a field. The Dragon struck a ditch, with the result that the undercarriage collapsed and both propellers .were broken, the machine coming, to rest against a fence. Several ribs in the wings were damaged through colliding with posts. Both the pilot and the passenger climbed out by the emergency exit. The mishap will not interfere with the plans of East Coast Airways Ltd. for commencing its service on April 15, as it is intended to use only one machine, keeping the second as a spare. The aeroplane will be repaired and given fresh tests as_ soon as the necessary parts are obtained.
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Bibliographic details
Evening Star, Issue 21994, 2 April 1935, Page 2
Word Count
216FORGED LANDING Evening Star, Issue 21994, 2 April 1935, Page 2
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