FLIGHT TO HAMILTON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19731, 2 September 1927, Page 10

FLIGHT TO HAMILTON.

THE AIRSHIP MISSION. RETURN WITHOUT STOPPING. TRIP. TAKES 100 MINUTES. OF COUNTRY. A non-stop flight from Mangere to Hamilton aud back was made yesterday afternoon by Group-Captain P. F. M Fellowes, leader of the Imperial Airship Mission, in continuation of the search for sites suitable for an airship base. Captain J. L- Findlay was pilot oi the Bristol fighter, which he had brought up from the South for the mission's use. The air-line distance between the startingpoint and Hamilton is 65 miles, and the journey there and back was made in about 100 minutes. Captain Fellowes stated last evening the air was decidedly "bumpy." The clouds were considerable, but, as they were at a height of 2000 ft., the visibility was fairly good. Hamilton was mostly in sunlight. Captain Fellowes remarked that the country appeared to him quite unusual. He noticed particularly the greenness of the pasture lands, the large areas of scrub on the plain about Hamilton, and the great inundations lower down the river. Hamilton had spread over such a wide area that by European standards an aviator would estimate its population at about 40,C00. Captain Findlay piloted the machine beautifully.

It is not expected that any flying will be done to-day, but Captain Fellowes intends to make more investigations on the grerund, and may visit Hamilton. FlightLieutenant Nixon, the mission's expert on topographical matters, is suffering from influensa, and was unable to go out yesterday. He is reported to be improving. Ts%s mission may possibly leave for the South to-morrow. BASE IN CANTEEBTJBY. THE WIND A DRAWBACK. The notorious hot nor'-wester that blows across the Canterbury Plains may prevent the establishment of an airship base at Christchurch. In his speech to the Chamber of Com' merce yesterday, Captain P. F. M. Fellowes, leader of the Imperial Airship Mission, remarked that among the questions airship meteorologists had to consider were humidity, temperature, and conditions around the airship bases. For example, he was informed that on the Canterbury Plains there was a peculiar north-west wind, which would probably make it impossible to moor an airship to a tower while it was blowing, or prevent one from lying at anchor. Mr. Giblett, the meterorologist" of the misison, had gone south to investigate this question.