OTAGO AIR PAGEANT

Hawera Star, Volume L, 24 February 1931, Page 7

OTAGO AIR PAGEANT

SUCCESSFUL GATHERING. (By Telegraph—Frees Association.) DUNEDIN, Feb. 21. An air pageant was held to-day to mark the opening of the Otago Aero Club’s new aerodrome at North Taieri. It was an unqualified success. The weather conditions, though a bit bumpy in the forenoon, were favourable for the greater part of the day and a crowd of over 10,000 was present. An excellent programme was run off without a hitch or mishap of any kind. Pilots and machines competed from all over the Dominion, the following clubs being represented: Otago, Southland, Wairarapa, Wellington, Canterbury and Marlborough, and also the New Zealand AirForce. Mr Oscar Garden was among the competitors. Results: — All transport race.—First heat: Flight-Lieut. While (Spartan) 1 1. Second heat: Squadron-Leader Jj- L. Findlay (Moth) 1. Third heat: Flying Officer Olson .I'. Final: Olson 1 ,Findlay 2, White 3.

Landing competition. —<Squadi-on-Leader M. G. McGregor 1. Aerobatic competition. McGregor and Olson, equal J. ■Otago Aerial Derby, five miles.— First heat: McGregor 1. Second heat': If. J. M. Smith 1. Third heat: Findlay 1 (Olson disqualified). Final: Findlay .1, McGregor 2, iSmith 3. Bombing a “baby” car.—Findlay 1, White 2, It. J. F. Sinclair 3. Formation fights were carried out at intervals. Squadron-Leader McGregor and Flight-Lieutenant Buckley gave an exhibition of aerial fighting.