Air-liners Come and Go

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 9, 11 January 1936, Page 6

Air-liners Come and Go

Trial Flights Now Daily

Feature

CHRISTCHURCH AND BACK IN SEVEN HOURS

The arrival and departure of airliners is thrilling the city at the moment;, and from an aeronautical point „f view Palmerston North is once f.gaiu on the map. The Koluku, the first of Union Airways, Ltd., DHBO expresses, arrived on Thursday ovenlag, and yesterday the Karoro, a sis-ter-ship, glided paeidly into Milson airport, having made the trip up from Christchurch in a flying time of 2hr. lOmiii.

The Kotuku, which arrived at Milson on Thursday evening, left at 8.10 ami.- yesterday on tho return trip carrying several passengers, including Dr. Barnett (meteorologist), Messrs W. A. Waters and H. G. Walker, Mr and Mrs Blikic, and Misses J. MeGhie and Blikie.

The Karoro yesterday was piloted north by Plying Oiiicer G. White, with Plying Officer K. Brownjohu as copilot. Mr R. J. Gibbs was radio operator and to him falls the distinction of having made tho journey to Christchurch and back in seven hours. Ho went down with the Kotuku yesterday morning and changed over to the Karoro for the return trip.

The Karoro yesterday afternoon took lhr. ISinin. to make Blenheim and 55 minutes to cover the second lap to Palmerston North.

The radio station established at Milson was able to keep in touch with both planes both ways, the wavelength used being 900 metres, .the recognised Land for aircraft. The signal strength was excellent.

Advice has been received by Mr A. V. Jury, of Ponatahi, Greytown, that lie has been appointed a pilot to Union Airways, Ltd. Air Jury was one of the first aviators in the Wairarapa to secure his pilot’s license, and is at present the holder of a B license. In addition, Air Jury was the first resilient of that district to own and oper■atc his own aeroplane’, an Avro-Avian machine. Air and Mrs Jury will live lin Dunedin when the former assumes his new position.

Wednesday's Function Ono of tho great events in aviation progress in New Zealand will be the official opening of the Union Airways' trunk service at Alilson Aerodrome, on Wednesday next. In addition to this historic ceremony, the occasion will be greatly enhanced by a special proprogramme of exhibition flying in which leading professional pilots of the Dominion will take part, and by a new sensation in the shape of dual parachute displays by the well known parachutists, Messrs'Phaser and .Sellars. The inauguration of tho Uniou Airways service, at which the lion. P l . Jones Postmaster-general, will officiate, will take place at the aerodrome at 1.15 p.m. and tho first airliner will leave for Dunedin at 2.(1 o’clock. The other two airliners will be engaged iu complimentary flights and joyriding during tho afternoon. A large attendance o. tho public is anticipated, and comprehensive arrangements have been made' for the free parking of ears. Admissiu to tho aerodrome will be Is and child l'Cii (id.

The parachute descents by Messrs Eraser aud Sellars, promise added thrills for the occas.on. The latter is credited with being the second New Zealander to take on parachuting as a career,'Mr Eraser being tho first to do so. Both parachutists have had considerable experience in making descents and they arc going to attempt something novel in their profession, both men coming down attached to one parachute. This will be the star item during their programme, and it requires considerable skill and nerve to undertake such a dangerous experiment.

“Scotty” Eraser has some 1270 jumps to his credit and is well known in the Manawatu. Sellars is a Duncdinite and learnt the art at Wigram aerodrome from the American parachutist, Bernard Skinner, who was with the Byrd expedition.