H.B.& E.C. AERO CLUB

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXI, Issue 302, 5 December 1931, Page 6

H.B.& E.C. AERO CLUB

THIRD ANNUAL REPORT THE YEAR'S ACTIVITIES. DIFFICULTY OF FINANCE. The following report will be »übmitted to the third annual meeting of the Hawke’s Bay and East Coast Aero Club to be held in Hastings on Monday, December 14:— Your committee has pleasure in presenting the third annual report and balance-sheet for the year ended 31st October, 1931. After writing off depreciation on the club’s own machines to the extent of £3OO, there is a surplus on the year’s working of £6l 6/3, which has been carried forward to the credit of the club's accumulated funds account, which now totals £742 0/1. The flying activities of the club during the past year have, in spite of the upheaval which occurred in this district on 3rd February, 1931, been well maintained. The total revenue received in this direction amounts to £1,675 12/-. The following eight members of the club have qualified for their “A” licenses during tne year: lan R. Gordon (Hastings), J. G. Bray (Gisborne), W. Milner-Gibson (Gisborne), A. McPhail (Gisborne), S. G. White (Hastings), G. H. Couper (Gisborne), S. Baring (Gisborne), L. R. McGaffin (Hastings). The committee extends to these pilots its congratulations on their success. Comments by the Director of Air Services on the standard of club flying have been most favourable. The total number of members who have obtained their “A” licenses is now 32, of whom seven are now qualified to carry passengers. Details of the year’s flying are as under: — Dual instruction, 217 hrs. 59mins.; solo instruction, 77hrs. 54 mins.; “A” pilots’ solo flying, 257 hrs. 20mins.; passengers, 96hrs. 43mins.; test of machines, 9hrs. 33mins.; test of pilots, 4hrs. lOmins.; courtesy flights, I2hrs. 37mins.; flights to pageants 19hrs.; miscellaneous flying on club business, 39hrs. 55mins.; total 735 hrs. llmins. The club’s work has been carried out without injury to pilot, pupil or passenger during the year. Immediately after the earthquake, the New Zealand Air Force took over control of the aerodrome and machines were assembled from all clubs in the North Island, centring at the Longlands aerodrome. The value of aviation in a time of emergency, such as arose immediately following the earthquake, was fully demonstrated to the public, rapid communication being maintained with outside districts during the whole of the period until communication by road and rail was re-established. Messrs G. C. and R. M. Field, two of the club’s endorsed “A” pilots, were enrolled temporarily in the service of the Air Force and are to be congratulated on the excellent work done under emergency conditions. MEMBERSHIP. In spite of the difficult times and the effect of the earthquake, our membership during the past year has kept up and there are indications that membership will improve during the coming year, a number of new members having already been enrolled. The executive desire to express their thanks to the “A" pilots who have stood by the club loyally during the past year, and who are responsible for about one-third of the flying revenue produced. In August last a most successful club rally was held at the Longlands aerodrome, the Air Force and visiting clubs contributing machines and competitors for the occasion. Cups for competition among “A” pilots for the landing and bombing events were very kindly donated by Mr. 0. L. Gordon and Mr. B M. Kessell. A very successful rally dance was held in the Racecourse Tea. Kiosk in the evening, the enjoyment of which was in very great measure duo to the tireless efforts of Airs G. C. Field and her ladies’ committee. At this function, Wing-Commander GrantDalton presented the prizes for the day’s competitions, as under: —Bombing the baby, G. C. Field (H.B. Club); aerobatics, C. C. Waite (Wellington Club); “A” pilots’ landing, S. Haybittle (Hawera Club); endorsed “A” landing, lan Gordon (H.B. Club); bombing the target, R. D. Brown (H.B. Club); best landing by local pilot, S. G. White (H.B. Club). PAGEANT. The elub was fortunate in being allotted the North Island pageant during the year and by co-operation with the Wairarapa Club, the pageant was held at Masterton. Over 30 machines participated .and the meeting was favoured by excellent weather. The pageant resulted in a net surplus to the club of £195. The Newbigin Cup for the Blue Ribbon race was annexed by Captain Findlay. One of the club’s pilots secured second prize in the landing competition. During the year your executive has been called upon to deal with a great deal of work, and has held 12 meetings. The Executive has to record the resignation of Mr C. E. Nelson Smith, one of the club’s founders and a gentleman who has assisted most substantially in the foundation and management of this elub. As some small mark of appreciaion of his services the elub has conferred on Air Nelson Smith a life membership. Squadron-Leader P. K. Fowler, another foundation member ef the club, has removed to Palmerston North, and his sound advice on many matters is greatly missed by the executive. These vacancies were filled during the year by the executive, Messrs lan Gordon and L. R. McGaffin being nominated. FINANCE. The difficulty of finance has been very apparent to your committee throughout the year and it is obvious that -without financial assistance, the club cannot hope to extend its activities to the extent to which it is required to do on this coast. Lack of sufficient equipment in the way of machines makes it very difficult for us to give idequate sorvic- f <> Gisborne. To mem the position as well as we arc able, the club’s own machine, ZK-AAB, has been stationed at Gisborne for several months, in the interests of solo flyers in that area, and we believe this arrangement is appreciated by the Gisborne Club. The Napier members are more easily serviced and our machine pays regular visits to the every excellent, aerodrome which has become available

as a result of the raising of the land due to the earthquake. Good progress is being made by pupils taking instruction from the Napier aerodrome. The long-looked-for art union for the benefit of the club is now definitely fixed to take place during March and April next. It is recognised by the Minister of Internal Affairs that the requirements of the district exceed the share of the proceeds which it is anticipated that the club will derive from the art union in conjunction with the Manawatu clubs, and it is hoped that at no very distant date an additional allotment will be obtained to enable us to better service the Gisborne and Napier areas. MACHINES. Of the two machines owned by the club, ZK-AAB is still in action and giving goid service. This machine, a Cirrus Moth, is one of the first of its kind flown in New Zealand. The other club-owned machine, ZK-AAY (Spartan) has been out of action for two years, and requires a complete new fuselage to make it airworthy. Of the two Government-owned machines, the Gypsy Moth, ZK-ABB, is giving excellent service and is a most popular machine. The Government-owned Spartan, ZK-ABC, has recently been completely overhauled and modified, and is giving considerably better service than previously. The club is very badly in need of its third Government machine, and expresses the hope that as soon as funds will permit, a machine will be available for the use of the district. On the resignation of Flying-Officer W. H. Lett, Flight-Lieutenant K. J. Gould was appointed instructor to the club ,and is recognised as a first-class pilot. Mr R. J. Pellow, ground engineer to the club, has given general satisfaction in the carrying out of his duties and in the care of the machines. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. The committee wishes to express its gratitude to the retiring Director of Air Services, Wing-Commander S. Grant Dalton, for his continued support, and for the kindly interest he has always manifested in the welfare of the club. The executive also desires to express its congratulations to SquadronLeader T. M. Wilkes on his re-appoint-ment in succession to the Wing-Com-mander. The executive also desires to acknowledge its thanks to the Auckland Wellington, Marlborough, Otago, Canterbury, New Plymouth, and Wairarapa Clubs for their welcome co-opera-tion in bringing the club’s pageant to a successul issue; to the debenture holders of the club who have allowed redemption of their debentures to stand over for a further year ,and without whose assistance the elub could not have been brought into existence, and to the local Press for the generous space they have allotted to the club’s activi ties during the year.