Manawatu Evening Standard. WEDNESDAY, NOV. 7, 1934. THE HANDICAP RACE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 291, 7 November 1934, Page 6

Manawatu Evening Standard. WEDNESDAY, NOV. 7, 1934. THE HANDICAP RACE.

With the announcement of the placings in the Melbourne Centenary Handicap Air Race the tremendous difficulty of the light machines in competing with the giant speed aeroplanes becomes apparent. The actual winner was the Comet piloted by Messrs Scott and Black, whose net flying time was 64 hours 48 minutes. Their handicap was 35 minutes 24 seconds. As, however, they were first in the speed event, and ■ cannot receive two prizes, the award has gone to the next in order, the Dutch airmen who piloted their Douglas machine into second place in the main race, but have elected to take the handicap prize. Messrs Parmentier and Moll had a handicap of a little more than six and a half hours, and their net flying time was 76 hours 38 minutes, giving them an advantage over the youthful South Australian, Mr C. J. Melrose, of 2 hours 39 minutes. Third place is now filled by Messrs Stodart Brothers, 15 minutes behind Mr Melrose, and the fourth by the Palmerston North entrants, Messrs McGregor and Walker, whose net flying time was 82 hours 43. minutes. Their handicap was 35 hours 22 minutes 12 seconds. Then follow Messrs Hewett and Kay (Auckland) and finally Messrs Hansen and Jensen (Denmark) who had the greatest handicap of all in 42 hours 2 minutes 24 seconds. The allowances were based on the estimated speed of the machines, which was calculated on the basis of engine _ power, total weight, pay-load, wing area, and other factors. Enthusiasts in the cause of Messrs .McGregor and Walker will be sincerely disappointed that they were not able to bring the prize they aimed at to Palmerston North, but the very fast machines were too powerful a factor in the race. They made a valiant effort to win, and even the time spent at Brunette Downs, not a scheduled stopping place, if it counted against them', made very little if any difference at all, for they were 6 hours 5 minutes behind the Dutch pilots, who were detained at Albnry when they made a forced landing, and 3 hours 16 minutes behind Mr Melrose, who also lost time when he missed his way at Darwin; The South Australian airman had . the advantage of 5 hours 36 minutes in handicap over the Manawatu entrants.

The performance of Messrs McGregor and Walker, described by the newspaper Aeroplane as unsurpassed in the history of British aviation, has brought the Dominion and Palmerston North, as well as our airmen, into prominence that is in itself a fine reward for their achievement. It also emphasises the value of aero clubs to the cause of aviation. We have not yet reached the stage of private flying that is known in England—that will come in the near future—but as in England our flying clubs are performing noteworthy service. The aeronautical correspondent of the London Times recently reported a boom in private ownership which was reflected in the work of flying schools and light aeroplane clubs. Great Britain has 60 flying clubs but only 18 last year received financial assistance from the Government. The membership is close on 5000, and last year the number of pilots’ liceuses increased by 463, the number of flights and hours flown also rising notably. lhe improvement at the principal flyin o' schools was even more stnkin“ 50 per cent, being the recorded increase in flying hours at the Air Service Training School at Hamble and the Airwork School at Heston, lhe

correspondent notes a similar expansion in the Empire. Ten new centres of club training were opened in India where there is widespread activity. “In New Zealand two new clubs were formed in 1933, making a total of 17 helped by the Government and 10 unassisted.” It is worth recording that the Manawatu Aero Club, which sent Messrs McGregor and Walker to participate in the race, does not receive a Government subsidy for pupils trained. In spite of this it has continued . the work and has turned out some of the best young airmen in the country. It is fortunate indeed to have Mr McGregor as instructor. The service it has rendered, and will continue to give, to the cause of Dominion aviation warrants some Government recognition. But for the aero clubs we would be a very backward unit of the Empire in the matter of aviation.