THE FLYING SCHOOL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17877, 24 August 1918, Page 9

THE FLYING SCHOOL.

ONE YEAR SINCE FIRST PUPILS TICKETED. FOUR MORE PILOTS YESTERDAY. It Is just a year ago to-day since the first six pupils of tho Canterbury Aviation Company took their pilots' tickets at Sockburn, and the staff are able to congratulate themselvos on the fact that, reckoning from date to date in the matter of ticketing, they have put 137 pupils through insido the twelve months. Strictly speaking, tho school has been in operation for mor o than a year, as tho first flights were made on Juno 19, 1917, and by June 19, 1918, the tally of pilots was a hunched. The fact that 137 men havo actually ticketed within twelve months is regarded as a very creditable performance and pne_ that marks a substantial contribution in the matter of war-winning!.. I'esLu'rday four moro pupils took their tickets. They were: — G. H. Christenson (St Albans). W. T. M'Keague (Gisborno). D. H. Shand (Dunedin). 'W. B. Scott. (Mataura). New records are constantly being mado at tho aerodrome. This week, for instance, fourteen new pupils have entered .'the school, and this is the largest number of "rookies 1 ' received iu any week. Yesterday, also, an altitude record was established during a flight by Mr O. M. Hill, with Mr E. H. Hiley, general manager of railways, as'pa&scnger. After a flight over tho city, Mr Hiley evinced such a strong desire for more that Mr Hill climbed tho machino steadily until a boightofoOOO feet wad reached. This was a record for New Zealand, being the highest flight that Mr Hill had undertaken sinco his arrival in tho Dominion. Tho previous best flight was mado with Sir William Eraser as a passenger early in the week. it can probably be claimed that the 100 h.p. machino has established unique records in tho varying ago of its passengers. Mr Hill's little daugntor, aged something under two years, was recently taken up for a flight, and, far from being frightened by tho experience, insisted on pulling away tho shawl that protected her faco and peeling over tho odgo of tho nacelle into a couple of thousand feet of space. On tho other hand, Sir William Fraser's maiden flight, at tho advanced ago of soventy-eight years, has caused a gooJ deal of speculation as to whether cny nlHer man has had tho enterprise to The Hon G. W. Russell, Minister of Internal Affairs, was a very interested visitor to the aerodrome yesterday, being motored, out to Sockburn by the KPcrctary of the company (Mr O. W. Hervey). Mr Russell was greatly interested in tho new hangar and tho special building for the construction of propellers, and ho commented favour ably on tho large increase in the number of aeroplanes in evidence and tho enormously increased training ground. Speaking to a reporter, Mr Russell said that the progress of the school had been most marked, and it placed the institution in tho forefront of aviation. Tho Canterbury Flying School was bound to bo of great value to tho Dominion in tfeho future. Its importance for the training of young New Zealanders for tho Air forces on the fighting front could not bo overestimated, and as Minister in Charge of Passports and Permits ho had seen that every consideration was givon to those young men who had qualified at tho school or proposed to join it. He was very proud indeed that New Zealanders'were joining tho ranks of the aviators, and were'assisting in the air in tho same manner as they had already assisted on terra firm a. Ho had noticed, that Sir Joseph Ward, speaking as Postmaster-Genornl. had declared his intontion of establishing aerial niail services in New Zealand, and no doubt during his present visit to England ho would make tho fullest inquiries as to tho practicability of tho proposal and its application to Now Zealand. In tho event of this forward step being taken, the fact that a magnificent aviation ground existed in Canterbury would neeossarilv concentrate at Christchurch tho training of tho men that Sir Joseph Ward proposed to detail for his aerial mail service after the war.