AUSTRALIA VISITED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 14 November 1934, Page 3

AUSTRALIA VISITED

SQUADRON-LEADER CHANDLER’S IMPRESSIONS THE GREAT AIR RACE After an absence of a little over a month, Squadron-Leader N. E. Chanel]er. the Marlborough Aero Club’s pilotinstructor, and pilot-instructor to the Nelson Aero Club, has returned to Blenheim from an interesting trip to Australia, in. the course pf which lie saw the finish of the air race, met many fain. our pilots and saw many famous machines. The primary purpose of his holiday was to sec. the finish of the air race and study the latest trends in flying matters. In an interview with an "Express” representative he referred to his experiences and impressions. Squadron-Leader Chandler joined company in Wellington with EliglitLieut. M. W. Buckley, of Wigram Aerodrome, and Flying-Officer Brian Armstrong, of Akitio, and they travelled together practically throughout. Upon arrival in Sydney they headed, naturally, for Mascot, the noted flying field, where they met Squadron-Leader T. W. White, late of Timaru. who took them for a “flip” over Sydney in the WackcttCodock which he*was to have piloted across the Tasman sea —a trip that is now definitely off, in that machine, at any rate, owing to defects in the engines, due to damage in transit. Squad--3011-Lcader Chandler remarked that the Codock flew very well, and he had the pleasure of meeting the designer, WingCommander Wackett, in company with Miss Jean Batten, the famous New Zealand aviatrix. “SMITHY’S” ALTAIR “At Mascot ‘Smithy’ showed us his Altuir. and she is a beautiful plane and very up to date,” the speaker proceeded. “There is no doubt the cowling of the machine was in a. frightful state when ‘Smithy’ was forced to return to Sydney after’setting out for England to start in the air race. The cowling was cracked everywhere and there was onlv one thing for it—a new cowling. Of

course that settled his chances of ever starting in the race. Squadron-Leader McGregor had. the same sort of trouble with his ‘bus’ during the race. The cowling cracked badly, and when ‘Mac’ landed at Melbourne I suppose there were 300 rivets in the cowling, lie told us that it was a big handicap, for when they should have been resting they had to stand up half asleep and rivet the cracks.” A KUO CLUB ACTIVITY In Sydney Squadron-Leader Chandler met Mr Bridgeland, secretary oi the N.S.W. Aero Club, who supplied him with a lot of useful information. Asked bis impression of the progress of the aero club movement in Australia, the speaker said that be was rather disappointed. Notwithstanding that the Government subsidy was on a more liberal basis, there were hardly more aero club planet in Australia than in New Zealand There were dubs only in the principal centres or State capitals, with a few subsidiary clubs _ Each undertook to keep so many machines in flying condition, and for each machine they were allowed five pupil pilots and 10 licence renewals on which subsidy was collected at the rate of £2O per pupil and £lO per renewal. In addition each dub received a maintenance grant of £3OO. “I was rather surprised to find that their civil aviation development and aero dub activities were not bigger than they are,” he added. FLIGHT TO MELBOURNE Sir Charles Kingsford Smith lent the New Zealanders a D.II. 50 in which they flew fioin Mascot the 40 miles to the ILA.A.E. base at Richmond, where they had a good look around, studied the machines and organisation. Back ai Mascot they met Sir C. T. I*. film's staff of mechanics and Mr G. -U. (“Scotty”) Allen, his pilot.. Tile big monoplane, the Faith in Australia, which visited Blenheim, was jplaced at the disposal of the party for a trip to Melbourne, and, sharing the cost of petrol and oil. they made the 500 miles trip for about £5 apiece instead of the £2O it would have cost otherwise. All took turns at the controls during the flight, which included n fair amount of blind flying and tho “bucking” of a thunderstorm. THE AIR RACE PILOTS | Arrived at Melbourne, the "Dominion visitors were made honorary members of the otficers’ mess at (lie R A .\ F. aerodrome at Lavertou, to which the air race machines returned after crossing the finishing line at Flemington racecourse. “So we were right in the middle of it,” the Squadron-Leader commented, “and had an excellent opportunity of meeting- the air race pilots and seeing the machines. Roth Scott and Black appeared to bo rather tired when

they landed after winning the speed race. They are both very fine fellows and were genuinely complimented upon their effort. They finished with compression in only about three cylinders of one engine. It is hard to say what future the Comets have except as fast mail carriers, perhaps. The Dutchmen were complimented all round on what everyone regarded as a most impressive performance. In marked contrast with the Englishmen they stepped out of their Dougias machine looking as neat and fresh as if they had emerged from a hand-box. Their flight was a great demonstration of tiie practicability of commercial flying to Australia, as ihoy stopped everywhere and made it a typical commercial flight. They were splendid airmen as their emergency landing w;ps made, on a racecourse that was not even recommended for Moths. The Douglas had a wing span of 35 yards—not feet. '“Our own "McGregor and Walker, Squadron-Leader Chandler continued, “landed looking fairly fresh, all things considered. Plieir Miles Hawk is smaller than a Moth, but Squadron-Leader McGregor stated that lie had got a top speed of 175 m.p.li., and the machines are becoming very popular in England in the Aero Clubs. Theirs was a very line performance, especially as they had the only machine without any covering for the pilots. They were very much sun-burned, with the skin peeling off their faces. Tt was most unfortunate that they were held up by a fearful dust, storm in Australia as they had a wonderful chance of winning the handicap race. As fur as (lie Air Force men were concerned, Squiuli Oil-Leader McGregor was the most popular pilot, his unassuming nature endearing him to everyone. ITe has not said much about their flight, hut I believe that they had some fun at parts of the trip that may yet come out. Mr Walker was also popular, and evidently plave(l a big part in their flight.” Speaking generally about liis trip, Squadron-Leader Chandler said that Melbourne was very gay, navmg thrown off its habitual conservatism for the cole , oration of the centenary. Accommodation was not so overtaxed as was aritii ipated. The street decorations were very wonderful, but U" to tho time he 'eft last Friday the weather had not been very favourable. The had only one really sump, day in a fortnight.