STUNT FLYING

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 58, Issue 4108, 4 March 1949, Page 5

STUNT FLYING

THRILLING DISPLAY

THAMES AIR PAGEANT PARACHUTE EXHIBITION Some thrilling stunt flying and parachute jumping was witnessed by the disappointingly small crowd which attended the Hauraki Aero Club’s third air pageant held at the Parawai aerodrome at Thames last Saturday. Clubs from the Waikato. Tauranga and Piako districts were represented by fourteen planes, while the Hauraki club’s ARC and ASQ also took part. Apologies were received from other clubs and from the Royal New Zealand Air Force, whose planes were not available at the last minute. The two highlights of the day were the aerobatic stunt flying by Mr G. M. Robertson, instructor of the "Waikato Aero Club, and the parachute jump by Mr Brian Musson.

A most creditable performance of aerobatics combining rolls, • dives, slides, loops, hedge hopping, plane hopping and fast low flying was fully appreciated by the public during Mr Robertson’s 20 minute display.

When the plane piloted by Mr F. W. Sawyer, Hauraki Club instructor, reached a height between 1700 and 2000 feet above the main highway at Kopu, Mr Musson leapt out, his parachute opened, and he made sC perfect landing on the aerodrome amid loud applause, which showed the extreme pleasure which those present had experienced.

To impress his audience" with the safety of flying and to demonstrate the perfect mechanical order of his machine, Mr Robertson cut the engine of his plane 6ff dead at several hundred feet and made a perfect, landing with his propellor stationary. Formation flying, led by Mr Sawyer, Mr Robertson and Mr R- Graham of Tauranga, all pilot instructors of their respective clubs, was another feature of the programme. Another interesting demonstration was a “ dogfight ” between Messrs Sawyer and Robertson.

Passenger flights kept |he pilots Messrs E. Law of Kopuarahi, L. Wheelar and R. Laurent of Paeroa and F. W. Sawyer, well occupied throughout the day.

Members of the Air Training Corps gave their assistance to- the club and the officials carried out their duties most capably. Side shows and refreshments were on the grounds and a social evening, arranged by the club, completed the day’s events.