AIRCRAFT DISPLAY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 205, 31 July 1939, Page 11

AIRCRAFT DISPLAY.

OPENING OF CLUBHOUSE, AERO CLUB’S ACHIEVEMENT. Saturday was a grey day, unpromising and cold for opening the new clubhouse, hangar, and workshop of the Middle Districts Aero Club at Milson Aerodrome, the ceremony being performed by Hon. F. Jones (Minister of Defence). In spite of the cold between 500 and 600 people visited the aerodrome and were rewarded with some spectacular aerobatics, and with a reasonably close inspection of about 20 aeroplanes, representing several types of Royal New Zealand Air Force and various visiting club machines. Among those present at the gathering wero Group-Captain 11. IV. L. Saunders (Chief of the Air Staff), Mr T. A. Barrow (Air Secretary), Squadron-Leader Gibson (head of the Wellington Territorial Squadron), Mr Bruce Furkitt (secretary of the, New Zealand Federation of Aero Hubs), Mr .1. Hodgens, ALP., Mr A. E. Mausford (Mayor of Palmerston North). Mr P. K. Fowler and Air K. G. Chamberlain (president and secretary respectively of the Middle Districts Aero Club), members of the Palmerston North City Council and their wives, and representatives of local bodies. Among apologies received were those from Group-Captain I'. M. Wilkes (Director of Civil Aviation) and Air Maurice F. Clarke (Union Airways). 'File crowd was disappointed that two scheduled parachute descents by Air G. H. Peglc.v were not performed, but the high wind “in the upper regions made these impracticable though Air Pogley expressed his willingness, if necessary, to carry out his share of the programme. Yesterday afternoon, however, when conditions were more favourable, Air Pegley made a successful jump. He landed in a paddock adjacent to the aerodrome. A large crowd had assembled to watch the performance. Alany people for the first time saw a “close-up” of the Air Force Baffin. Fairey-Gordon, and Airspeed-Oxford bombing ’planes. Three Ratlins, three Fairey-Gordons, and one Oxford wero on display, the first-named carrying out a formation flight when the wind, fortunately, dropped after the opening ceremony. Some of the speedy characteristics of the Airspeed Oxford bomber—six more of which the Government has on order in addition to the five already in the Dominion—were shown, the performance being watched with great interest. Of particular note were the machine’s swift take-off and rapid rate of climb. The Fairey-Gordons, but recently assembled and flown up from AYigram, did not participate in any exercises. Attractive displays of aerobatics were well-performed by Flying-Officer I). Campbell (instructor to the club) and Alajor R. L. AlcGaffin and another highlight was given by “Colonel Crackshot” who, making his appearance from a ’plane, shot at and apparently hit bottles on the tray of a light truck. After the formation display by the Wellington Territorial Squadron of Baffins, the ’planes headed south and returned to Wellington. They were the only machines to return. Rain and hail, accompanied by a steadily increasing chilly wind, brought a bleak climax to the afternoon's display, with the result that conditions compelled an overnight stay for the other machines. Yesterday the Fairey-Gordons and the Airspeed Oxford bomber returned to AVigram, but three Canterbury ’planes and one Christchurch machine were forced back to Milson after encountering rough conditions over Cook Strait. These machines and the Air Department’s Percival Gull still remain at Afilson. The AA’ellington Aero Club'-f AVaco was slightly damaged yesterday when the trailing.aerial wire of an Air Force machine caught and ripped the fabric of an upper wiiig and portion of the tail when the bomber was flying across tbe ’drome. It was hoped to repair the damage to-dav and fly the craft back to AA'ellington. THE SPEECHES. S Air Fowler, in the introductory speech, referred to the activities of the club and said it had trained more than 100 pilots up to A license standard. Nine of the club’s trainees had gone oversea to serve in the Royal Air Force. One of the outstanding events in the club’s history was the entry of the late Squadron-Leader AT. C. McGregor and Commander H. ('. AA’alker (Union Airways) in the Alelbourne Centenary Air Race. Personally, Ah' Fowler felt gratified with the Government’s Civil Reserve training scheme and its easy ’plane purchase plan for clubs, and he expressed the club’s thanks to those resoonsible for so helping civil aviation. He thanked also the Palmerston North City Council for its assistance and welcomed Air Jones, the official visitors, and the spectators to the function. •‘FLYING” AVELCOAIE. Afr Mnnsford also welcomed Afr Jones, and remarked that each of the three visits to Palmerston North made by Ah' Jones had been “flying” ones. He complimented the club on /its indomitable spirit shown after the destruction of its clubhouse and machines by fire, and said that the officials and members had been directly concerned in encouraging the air-mtndcdness of the people in the Dominion. Air Alansford said members were to be commended on the great spirit they had displayed in regard lo aviation in the district, and lie expressed the tha.nks of the city to those who had made it possible for the council to acquire Ihc aerodrome, of which file council was extremely proud. He extended his heartiest congratulations to the club on its past accomplishments and on its present achievement. Afr J. Hodgens, ALP., adding his congratulations to the club and its members, and welcoming Air Jones, said the club played second fiddle to no one in the Dominion. He _ knew how insistently they had worried the City Council and how they had always forcefully put flic case for the aero clubs. THANKS TO-CIIRISTCHURCH.

“1 felt deep regret when I learned that the first clubhouse had been burnt and the club’s machines destroyed,” said Air Jones in his address. “However, thanks to the clubs, especially Christchurch, who helped von in your distress you have been able to pull through very well indeed.” Continuing, Air Jones said while lie had no doubt that, the people of Palmerston North, in common with the rest in the Dominion, had always been interested in aviation, evidence nl this interest was demonstrated first in this centre by the proposal to form a flying club in November. 192 R. LARGER. FIELD REQUIRED.

Hn referred briefly to the events leading to the formation of the present club and the acquisition of a suitable. area of ground, and said tluit since the beginning of the commercial air service from Milson Aerodrome traffic on the regular services find increased very considerably. At present thcro was'a daily total of 12 departures and a rivals of aircraft on scheduled services.

“The total number of passengers arriving arid leaving the aerodrome during the year ended, March 31, 1939,

was 888-1 and recent figures show that this total will he exceeded in the coming year,” Mr Jones said. He then referred to the value of the Middle Districts Aero Club to the Manawatu, and its link with Milson, and, congratulating the club, particularly its executive officers and committee, on the initiative that the.v had shown in the provision of so suitable a building, he declared the clubhouse open amid applause.