Aero Club Hangar Destroyed

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 41, 18 February 1939, Page 4

Aero Club Hangar Destroyed

THREE PLANES ALSO BURNT Disastrous Milson Fire BRIGADE’S HOPELESS TA3K A disastrous fire which broke out some time before 9 o’clock last night destroyed the hangar of the Middle Districts’ Aero Club at Milson Aerodrome and the three planes that were housed in it. Casting a glare across tho sky which could be seen from all parts of the city, the flames had reached a stage Where it was impossible to save anything by the time the Central Firo Brigade arrived in response to a telephone call. The first person to notice that anything was wrong went to the administration block at the aerodrome and summoned the brigade, which had difficulty in getting to the scene of the fire as the road was taken up with a large number of cars driven by people who had been attracted by the reflection In the sky.

The roof by this time had collapsed and the firo was beyond control. About 1000 feet of hose with two leads was run out to allow the men to deal wi t the fire. Little could be clone except to prevent the spread of tho fire. Fortunately tho brigadesmen were able to remove two portable benzine tanks with a capacity of 120 gallons eacli which were in small detached iron sheds.

Inside the hangar were a Porterfield monoplane and two Tiger Moths which were consumed in the fiames. The only furniture that had been placed in the building was a billiard table. The building, which was a new one and probably the most up-to-date in the Dominion, was token over by the Middle Districts’ Aero Club just before Christmas and had been in use for only two months. The official opening was to have taken place about March 18. The building was a combined hangar and club house measuring 84ft. by 81ft. over all and tho hangar proper, which was capable of housing five machines, was 72ft. by 45ft., constructed of a wooden framework covered with iron.

The loss to the club will be heavy but fortunately all the property is covered with various insurance companies. The two Tiger Moths were valued at £I4OO each and the Porterfield at £IOOO. The building was estimated to be wortli £2300. Insurances on the planes amounted to £3700 placed with the New Zealand Insurance Company, that on the building to £2OOO in the Queensland Office and the equipment was insured for £2OO with the Insurance Office of Australia.

Mingled with the misfortune that the club suffered in the destruction of its new premises is the satisfaction that tho new furnishings which were to be installed on Monday of next week escaped the flames. The origin of the fire could not be ascertained last night but it would appear that the outbreak started in the vicinity of the kitchen, which was on the northern side of the building. As the wind was blowring from this quarter the flames would be driven through the woodwork and obtain a good hold in a very short space of time. There was no danger to the hangar or workshops of the Union Airways of New Zealand Limited as the wind was blowing away from them. The wireless shack used by the Post and Telegraph Department was also fortunately situated as the wind carried the flames and sparks in the opposite direction:

The interest that the lire aroused among the residents of tho city and immediate neighbourhood w r as indicated by the complete confusion into which the hundreds of cars were thrown when some of those who had been watching the conflagration endeavoured to leave the vicinity. Cars were unable to go backwards or forwards for some time and many peoplo had to approach the fire on foot for the last three-quarters of a mile.

The club captain, Mr. N. R. Lecher, said last night that the club hoped to be able to procure two planes from somewhere to enable it to continue with its training of civil reserve pilots and general club work. Six Tiger Moths were duo in the Dominion within a month and tho club should be able to obtain one of these from the Government. It would probably be possible also to hire or purchase a second machine from another aero club.