LIGHT AIRCRAFT OF NEW DESIGN VISIT GISBORNE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23024, 15 August 1949, Page 6

LIGHT AIRCRAFT OF NEW DESIGN VISIT GISBORNE

The two light aircraft seen in the air over Gisborne on Friday, and easily recognised as strangers, were an Ercoupc from Auckland and a Chipmunk from Wellington, each being seen in this area for the first time.

The Ercoupe belongs to the Auckland Aero Club. It flew a passenger to Gisborne and returned to Mangere on Friday. The pilot was Mr Harvey. It is a light low-wing monolane, of United States design, has a tricycle landing gear and is very compact. Its power unit has horizontally-opposed cylinders, and the seating accommodation for two is side by side.

The Ercoupe was flown out to New Zealand from Belgium about two years ago by Flight-Lieutenant H. Newton, Taranaki, and it was considered a remarkable flight for an aircraft so small. It is well equipped with navigational gear. It was purchased by the Auckland Aero Club.

The Chipmunk, of Canadian design, is dc Havil land's new trainer. Two such aircraft now belong to the Wellington Aero Club. The one in Gisborne. ZK-AR'L, is on its maiden flight, ft left the factory on Thursday morning and after completing the necessary test flights was handed over to the aero club on Thursday afternoon. Mr. H. R. Holden, of the Wellington and Hawera aevo clubs, piloted the Chiomunk to Gisborne with Mr. J. MWickens as passenger. The journey was broken at Hastings, and was resumed on Friday morning. They stayed over the week-end. Keen interest was shown in the Chinmunk bv members of the Gisborne Aero Club and former members of the service. It is almost all of metal alloy, has a canopy cockpit. a Gipsy Major engine and a metal propeller. The cruising speed of the Chipmunk is 115 m.p.h.