AERO CLUBS

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 111, 7 April 1930, Page 4

AERO CLUBS

PAGEANT AT HASTINGS. Per Press Association. ! HASTINGS, April 5. Tlie Hawke's Bay and East.’ Coast Aero Club was favoured with ideal weather on Saturday for the aerial pageant at Hastings. Seventeen machines competed. The pilots came from various parts of the Dominion, and included two women. Some 3000 people assembled to witness the programme, which included landing and bombing competitions, and displays’of aerobatics, besides races and formation flying. Sir Andrew Russell and the Mayor, Mr G. F. Roach, welcomed Hon.' J. G. Cobbe, Minister of Defence, Right Hon. J. G. Coates, Leader of the Opposition, Major-General Young, and Wing-Commander R. Dalton. Sir Andrew Russell suggested that' the Minister should devote part of the reductions made on the land forces to promoting aviation. Ho also advocated the establishment of air ports by civil authorities. Mr Coates supported Sir Andrew Russell’s suggestions, but the Minister, while admitting the claims of the air service, declined to commit himself. Ho said that an investigation must first bo made. The competing machines were ail Moths excepting Miss Clifford’s Avro Avian.

Results were as follow: “A” Pilots landing.—F. R. Dix (Marlborough) 1, R. S. Taylor (Canterbury) 2, W. Boys (Hawke’s Bay. and Fast Coast) 3. Twelve started. Lady pilots, landing.—Miss A. Clifford (Christchurch) 1, Miss P. Bennett (Marlborough) 2. The only starters. Taxi past, fly past and landing.— Lieut. Allen (Auckland) 1, G. M. Firth (Auckland) 2, Miss P. Bennett (Marlborough) 3. Ten started. All transport race.—First heat: Captain Mercer (Canterbury) 1, Captain C. Brook (Auckland) 2, Captain Blomfield (Auckland) 3. Also started: F. R. Dix (Marlborough). Second heat: Lieut. Allen (Auckland) 1, Flying Officer Keith (New Plymouth) 2, Captain Hewett (Falcon Airways, Ltd.*, Auckland) 3. Also started: Captain Saunders (Auckland). Third heat: Hamish Armstrong (Akitio) 1, G. M. Firth (Auckland) 2, Miss P. Bennett (Marlborough) 3. The only starters. Final: Armstrong 1, Mercer 2, Allen 3

Car bombing.—Lieut. Allen 1, Captain Blomfield 2, Captain Seabrook 3. Ten started. , „ . , Slow race. —Flying Officer Keith (New Plymouth) 1. Five entries. N.Z. light aeroplane blue ribbon (for the ' Newbigin Cup). Approximately ten miles; four in each heat. — First heat: Flying Officer Olsen (H.B. and E.C. Clubl 1, Phil Seabrook (Auckland) 2, Captain J. .Mercer (Canterbury) 3. Second heat: Captain T. •W. White (H.B. and E.C.)' 1, Lieut. Allen (Auckland) 2. F. R. Dix (Marlborougli) 3. "" Final: Olsen 1, White 2, Allen 3.