AVIATION IN AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17984, 9 January 1922, Page 6

AVIATION IN AUCKLAND.

FLIGHTS WITH PASSENGERS. OVER THIRTY CARRIED. SPORT AT SHELLY BEACH. /'The first short passenger flights conducted in Auckland on a popular basis were carried out by the New Zealand Flying Sdhool from Shelly Beach on Saturday afternoon, and again yesterday afternoon. A 130 h.p. Avro seaplane, piloted by Mr. Geo. Bolt, was used for the flights, and, judging by the public appreciation of tho trips, future flights of the kind should bo quite a feature of Auckland's summw attractions. 1 During the two days .34 passengors of both, Boies—lß on Saturday and 16 yesterday afternoon—availed themselves of the opportunity of soeing tho harbour and city from tho air, and experiencing the pleasurablo sonsation gained by flying in the clear summer atmosphere. From an elderly woman, who expressed herself as thrilled but please:!, to a child four years of age, who clamoured insistently to be taken up again, all were elated by their experience and gratified at the skilful way in which Mr. Bolt piloted the poworful machine.

The high tide on both afternoons enabled che seaplane to be floated right up to the beach, so that passengers merely had to step on to the floats, ascend a short ladder, and climb into the cockpits. Once the passengers were securely and comfortably settled, the mechanic would swing the propeller, and the pilot switching on, the engine would burst into a roar, the machine moving off slowly. Heading out across the smooth, sparkling water, the lift of the wings would raise the floats, and soon they would be just skimming the wster in a smother of creamy foam. A few more yards, and witfh a backward pressure of the " |oy stick," the pilot would lift the machine clear of the water ■and head it up into the deep blue of the sky, which was flecked with snowy clouds.

Looking down toward the harbour during one of the trips, the ships at anchor seemed to the passenger in flight to be strangely narrow and diminutive. From a height of about 1000 ft. launches whose foaming wake denoted their speed, seemed to be moving quite slowly, and to be insignificant things, and they were left behind in an instant. Rising still in steady flight, the machine passed Stanley Bay, and circled over Devonport. From a height of about 1300 ft. the islands to the north gleamed invitingly from a bke sunlit sea, and far down the gulf the blue haze held a score of tempting isles and bays with peaceful cftyes reflecting the green hills. Banking easily, the machine then swept in a wide circle over the city, where the deserted wharves and quiet' ordered streets looked strangely unfamiliar and bowilderingly empty. Cutting out the engine for a minute the pilot planed swiftly down, the wires and framework of the seaplane humming in the rushing flight like the strings of a groat harp. With a sense of illimitable speed, the machine glided gpcefvlly down toward the water, and, its engine roaring into life, alighted on the water with a slight bump and " taxied" to the beach. By the time one load of passengers had climbed regretfully out and back to terra firina, kean-eyed and still exhilarated with the joy of the flight, others were waiting to go up. So the flights were continued until failing light and falling tide brought an end to the sport.