AERO CLUB PAGEANT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20496, 22 February 1930, Page 12

AERO CLUB PAGEANT.

GATHERING AT BLENHEIM,

LADY FLIER'S SUCCESS

THRILLS PROMISED TO-DAY.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] BLENHEIM. Friday.

A unique competition, Jvnown as the Zero Hour contest, marked the opening of tho Marlborough Aoro Clab's pageant this afternoon. The club had" fixed 3.45 p.m. as zero hour, and a tropliy was offered for the visiting pilot landing from any part of New Zealand neavest* to that hour.

The first flier to put, in an appearance was Miss Aroha Clifford, of Christchurch, who landed at 4.8 p.m., halving left Christchurch at 1.45 p.m. Two .and a-half minutes later Captain BuckVey landed in the speedy Brebe, having left Christchurch at 2.45 p.m. Then in quiclic succession landed tlio Hawke's Bay Aerd Club's Spartan, four Moths and three Bristols from Wigratn, a Moth from Auckland and a Monocoupe from Wellington. Beforo 5.10 p.m. 14 visiting machines had arrived.

Captain MacGregor, who is at Collingwood, Mr. D. Mill, who is visiting Dunedin, Mr. F. C. Chichester, Mr. G. D. M. Goodwin, of Wellington, and other pilots aro cxpeetpd in the morning, so that upwards of 25 planes should tako part in tho pageant.

A landing competition for A class pilots will be held at 10.30 a.m. to-morrow and tho pageant proper will commence at 2.15 p.m. Tho events will includo a New Zealand Air Cup over five-miles, for a 70-guinea trophy, an all-transport race for tho Furness Roso Bowl, a slow race, a parachute drop, crazy flying by Captain MacGregor, an aerial "dog fight," formation flying, bombing and many other attractions.

Tho weather promises well and the. pageant should bo highly successful. Tho venue is the Woodbourne Aerodrome, tho scene of tho take-off of the Southern Cross for Australia. Blenheim is crowded with visitors and a record crowd is anticipated to-morrow. This evening tho first conTerenco of Now Zealand aero clubs is being held, with tho object of setting up a controlling authority for ocro club activities.