AVIATION

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 217, 27 August 1927, Page 7

AVIATION

CHRISTCHURCH-AUCKLAND FLIGHT

CAPTAIN FINDLAY CRASHES.

BOTH MEN UNINJURED.

(Per Press Association).

Blenheim, Aug. 27. Captain J. L. Findlay and Sergeant Simpson, en route from Christchurch to Auckland in a D.H. 50, crashed on landing at Blenheim and the machine was rather seriously damaged. Both men were entirely unhurt. The aerodrome, which is under a young crop, appeared to be in good order and the machine actually made a splendid landing, but the ground in the centre of the field turned out to be very soft and the wheels sank in. The propeller struck the ground and the machine overturned.

Those present were relieved when the airmen crawled out unhurt.

The machine's propeller was smashed ,the radiator ruined and the rudder damaged, and generally strained. The machine is now being dismantled and housed in the hanger awaiting repairs. Within an hour after Captain Findlay’s crash, advice was received from Christchurch that Captain Buckley was leaving in a Bristol fighter for Blenheim. Here Captain Findlay will take over the Bristol and continue his flight to Auckland, via Hawera. Captain Buckley will take charge of the wrecked machine. It is expected that Captain Findlay will reach Auckland this afternoon. AIRSHIP RlOl. TO BE BASED AT CARDINGTON. (Received 26, 9.15 a.m.) London, Aug. 25. The tremendous task of dismantling the largest shed at the Fulham airship station, which is 756 feet in length, has commenced. It will be removed to Cardington to accommodate the new super-airship RlOl. This shed housed the trans-Atlantic flier R 34, which has been scrapped and now presents the sorriest picture lying in a tangled heap of debris.— (A .and N.Z.)

BRITISH FLYING BOATS.

RECORD NORTHERN CRUISE.

(British Official Wireless.) (Received 27, 11 a.m.) Rugby, Aug. 26. The flying boat "Blackburn Iris," in which the British Air Minister, Sir Samuel Hoare, returned to England from Copenhagen on Wednesday, will rejoin three other British flying boats on a cruise which includes visits to Danzig, Helsingfors. Stockholm, back to Copenhagen, and thence home via Helder to Felixstowe on September 11th. In his double seaplane flight the Minister covered 1400 miles. Throughout the whole time the Minister has been with the seaplanes the weather has been rough, and the 3000 miles Oslo to Copenhagen journey was flown in the teeth of a heavy gale. At Oslo the King and Queen of Norway, and the naval and military authorities, all went over the boats', and both the Queen and the Crown Prince of Norway made a flight in the “Iris.”

At Copenhagen the Crown Prince of Denmark, visited the machines, as did a number of officials prominently associated with aviation and the Danish aero show. The schedule of the flight has been maintained throughout, and the seaplanes have created great interest where