CROSSCOUNTRY FLIGHT

Hawera Star, Volume L, 19 December 1930, Page 5

CROSSCOUNTRY FLIGHT

ROUGH TRIP FROM NEW PLYMOUTH:

HAWERA TRAINEE’S DESCRIPTION.

Flying Officer Keith, instructor to the Western Aero Federation, flew a rederation Gypsy Moth from New Plymouth to Hawera yesterday,' accompanied by a Hawera ’ Aero Club trainee as a passenger. Asked to, describe his impressions of his first crosscountry flight, the Hawera pupil writes as follows:

Going to New Plymouth by service car, en mute to the aerodrome proved a very warm ride, due to the fact that the wind was with us. At the ’drome, however, we ’could see we had a stiff southerly to face on the return journey. Mr. C. Derby, a trainee or the New Plymouth Club, now able to . ffy solo, had the coveted task of flying the other Moth down to Hawera. \Ve took our respective seats and almost' with the word ‘contact’ the engines sprang into life and the machines were quivering as though anxious to be away. After a few minutes warming up, Mr. Derby was given the signal .to go. Simultaneously his engine burst into a roar and lie was skimming over the ground. The next was a question being put to me, per medium of my ear phones, ‘All set there?’ I answered in the affirmative, the engine roared out on full throttle, and we were away and up. I looked to see where the other ’plane was by. this time,, and finally saw it on our right, a small looking object, and although it was doing about 70 miles per. hour it appeared to be stationary. I looked aw-ay -to-tHe altimeter, which showed, about 150 d feet, and about then I began to .experience for the first time what strong air currents and a gale can dp to -a ’plane. If the air had been visible it would have appeared to be acting in a most extraordinary manner; crazily iswirling, lifting and dropping; .gusts 'violently colliding; a mad mixture of forces. Wickedly it seized and shook the little Moth;' then tried to turn it over sideways; then instantly changed its mind and dropped it into a hole a hundred feet deep ; and if it were not for the safety belt one might have found liis seat sinking away from beneath him. Such were my impressions', but the pilot, perfectly at ease and alert to its slightest motion, guided the ’plane safely to its destination. - * “There was not a single cloud on the mountain, and a' more beautiful view would be hard to imagine. Meanwhile the towns had been passing by beneath us, a little over 2000. feet away. Straight- across country was Inglewood, Tariki on our left, then Waipuku, Midhirst and Stratford. Below us at the later place we could see white specks on green swards and guessed they were players of summer games spending their lialf-holiday at sport. The machine banked smartly and we hovered over a green, and [then away on our course again. “Now we were coming into more familiar country. Eltham on our left, then Te Roti railway station on our right, and then the aerodrome on the outskirts of Hawera. I received instruction to undo my safety belt and so be ready to help steady the machine when it landed. It was hardly necesi sarv, however, as the machine, under 1 the capable hand of Flying Offioer Keith, made a beautiful landing and the air at gbound level was quite calm. After a few moments the other ’plane made a fine landing, and thus, after the machines had been safely housed, ended a most, interesting and instructive afternoon.”