AERIAL PAGEANT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 70, 22 February 1932, Page 3

AERIAL PAGEANT.

SOUTH ISLAND EVENTS. Per Press Association. INVERCARGILL, Feb. 21. The South Island Air Pageant was held on Saturday under the auspices of the Southland Aero Club, at the Invercargill Aerodrome. The weather was fine and clear, with bright sunshine, but a strong and gusty easterly wind made flying conditions somewhat difficult. The aerodrome proved an ideal location for the pageant; there was ample room for the .’planes to manoeuvre, and the spectators were able to obtain an excellent view of every part of the programme. The attendance was estimated to be over 5000. Visitors’ cars were so numerous that when parked several deep the line extended along two sides of tlie aerodrome, a distance of over half a mile. Almost every phase of aeronautics and aerobatics was featured in the pageant, racing, stunting, landing competitions parachuting, and novel competitions being included. A largo variety of types of ’planes was entered by clubs, and private owners took part. The defence staff did not participate in the competition. Results of the principal events are as follow: >

Southland Derby.—First heat: Air C. AI. Duthie (Wellington Aero Club), 1; FlyingOfficer E. G. Olson (Otago Aero Club), 2. Also competed: Mr A. O. Jury (Wairarapa Aero Club). Time, smin 24 3-ssec. Second heat: Flight-Lieutenant T. W. White (New Zealand Airways), 1; Flying-Officer J. AI. Smith (Southland Aero Club), 2. Tinio, smin 41sec.

Final: Fiight-Licutonant White, 1; Mr Dutliio 2. As his machine had been damaged, Flying-Officer Olson was unable . to compote in tho final. Air Duthie and l'lightLicutcnant White hung close together for the full * distance, and Flight-Lieutenant White won narrowly. Time, sinin 41sec. “A” License Landing Competition.—Air D. Campbell (Otago Aero Club), 1; Mr S. Aleatcham (Wellington Aero Club), 2; Air E. Liverton (\Vairarapa Aero Club), 3. Also competed: l’ilot-Oftieer S. 11. Gilkison (Southland Aero Club), Air P. C'arran (Canterbury Aero Club), Air P. C. Lowis (Auckland Aero Club), Air W. E. Clark (New Zealand Airways). “B” License Landing Competition (for professional pilots).—Mr C. AI. Duthie (Wellington Aero Club), 1; SquadronLeader C. AlacGrcgor (Christchurch), 2; Flying-Officer J. AI. Sinitb (Southland Aero Club), 3. - Obstacle Race. —First heat: Air A. O. Jury (Wairarapa. Aero Club), 1; FlightLieutenant W. Park (Otago Aero Club), 2; Air S. Aleatcham (Wellington Aero Club), 3. Air Jury won by 200 yards. Second heat: Flight-Lieutenant I. W. White (New Zealand Airways), 1; Flying-Officer J. AI. Smith (Southland Aero Club), 2; FlightLieutenant White. Won by about 300 yards. F’inal: Air Jury, 1; Flight-Lieutenant White, 2. Aerobatic Competition.—Squadron-Leader AlacGregor (Christchurch), and FlyingOfficer E. G. Olson (Otago Aero Club) tied for first place. Also competed: FlyingOfficer J. Buckeridge. (Wairarapa Aero Club), Mr C. AI. Duthie (Wellington Aero Club), Flying-Officer J. AI. Smith (Southland Aero Club). Combing the Baby.—Fliglit-Lleutcnaijt J. C. Alercer (Canterbury Acno Club), 1; Air E. R. Bourchior (Auckland Aero Club), 2- Air S. Aleatcham (Wellington Aero Club), 3. “A” License Landing Competition. — Air G, Excell (Southland Aero Club), 1; Air R. T. Strang (Canterbury Aero Club), 2. Mr Excoll landed 26 yards from the circle and Air Strang 32 yards.