AIR PAGEANT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 114, 10 April 1930, Page 3

AIR PAGEANT.

GATHERING AT HAWERA. Per Press Association. HAWERA, Aprilr.9. Taranaki’s first air pageant, held under the auspices of the Hawera Aero Club at Egmont racecourse this afternoon, attracted between 6000 and 7000 people, while lfirge numbers viewed the events from various points of vantage in the vicinity. Ten aeroplanes were in attendance, representing Canterbury, Marlborough, Wellington, New Plymouth, Hamilton and Auckland. Fine weather favoured the opening of the programme, but light rain showers were experienced from three o’clock onward, while a stiff northerly breeze rising m occasional gusts presented difficulties. Commencing with a massed parade, the. programme consisted of varying features, including the Egmont Air Cup race, formation flying, bombing, and parachute descending by “Colonel Sandbags.” Captain M. C. MacGregor, of Hamilton, provided a succession of thrills for the crowd with am exhibition of aerial acrobatics, including upside-down flying. He also appeared with Flight-' Lieutenant M. W. Buckley, of tho New Zealand Air Force, in an aerial dog fight. Other pilots who participated in the programme were Miss Aroha Clifford (Christchurch), Captain S. Wallingford (Auckland), Flying-Officer I. Keith (New Plymouth), Miss P. Bennett and Mr F. It. Dix (Blenheim), Captain J. Mercer (Christchurch), Captain G. Stedman (Wellington), Pilot-Officer J. Buckeridge (Christchurch). Flight-Lieutenant H. B. Burrell, of the New Zealand Air Force, officiated as judge. The competitive events resulted as follow: Landing.—Captain MacGregor, 1; Flight-Lieutenant Buckley, 2, Five competed. Balloon Bursting. Flying-Officer Keith, 1. Five competed. Bombing.—Pilot-Officer Buckeridge, 1; Captain Mercer, 2. Four competed. EGMONT AIR CUP.—Six miles. First heat; Captain MacGregor, 1; Captain Mercer, 2; Miss Bennett, 3. The only-starters. Second heat: Captain Stedman, 1; F. R. Dix, 2; FJying- , Officer Keith, 3. Also started :. Miss Clifford. Third heat: Flight-Lieut-enant Buckley, 1; Captain Wallingford; 2; Pilot-Officer Buckeridge, 3 The only starters, FINAL. Captain MacGregor - 1 : Captain Buckley ... ... 2 Captain Stedman ... 3 . Flying low, the trio provided a thrilling finish, the winner moving up in the final thirty yards to take the decision by a nose.