AERIAL PAGEANT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20539, 14 April 1930, Page 13

AERIAL PAGEANT.

EXHIBITION AT MANGERE.

THRILLS FOR SPECTATORS.

CLUB RACE TO HAWKE'S BAY.

captain McGregor wins derby. Thousands of Aucklanders were attracted to tho Mangere aerodrome on Saturday when tho Auckland Aero Club's second aerial pageant was held. Over 20 machines, including several types not proviously seen in Auckland, thrilled the spectators with races, stunting, bombdropping and landing contests. Several pilots gave excellent demonstrations of stunt-flying between the events and thero was not a dull moment in tho whole day. Among those present during tho afternoon were tho Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, Leader of the Opposition, who, with the Director of Air Services, WingCommander S. Grant-Dalton, took tho air in a largo DHSO machine. Mr. F. C. Chichester, the famous New Zoaland airman, made a special flight from Rotorua in his Moth " Mme*. Elizah," in which he flew from England to Australia. He received a warm welcome from the crowd, the cheers being repeated when he took off again on tho return journey to Rotorua later in the afternoon.

The weather was fine, but a strong south-westerly wind did not make for tho best flying conditions. Tho competing pilots, who ranged from veteran aviators with war experience to equally enthusiastic club-trained flyers, all showed commendable skill and judgment in tho handling of their machines. Thero wero no accidents to mar tho enjoyment of tho pageant. There was not a largo attendance in the morning when only two events were decided. The first was tho landing competition, a most difficult test of skill in tho high wind. Pilots wero required to land from an altitude of 1000 ft. without using their engines, and some remarkably fino landings wero made, particularly by tho winner, Major G. A. C. Cowper, whoso machine came to»-rest in tho small circle at the centro of the aerodrome. Thrills In the Derby. The next event, tho New Zealand Aerial Derby Cup race, gavo the spectators their first thrills as tho heats were despatched one after the oth'er. The three machines in each heat wero taxied to the far end of the aerodrome, and then at the starter's flag roared into the wind toward the hangar, rising only sufficiently high to clear the fences and tho spectators. Over tho heads of the crowd they shot, banking steeply when they reached tho first turn to swoop down-wind toward Otahuhu. Throughout the ten-milo circuit they were in tho sight of the spectators, who followed them intently until, low down, they crossed tho finishing line in tho centre of the ground. The greatest thrills were in the first two heats, when Captain M. Buckley and Captain McGregor, each of whom drew the inside position for the turns, banked steeply on tho first turn at a very low altitude and gained an advantage over the other competitors, which they held to tlip finish Tho final was won by Captain McGregor. In tho afternoon, before an increased attendance, tho first semifinal of the Aerial Derby provided ample excitement. As before, Captain Buckley went to the front from tho start, but after tho first turn, at an island in tho Manukau, his machine descended suddenly. Anticipating trouble a portion of the crowd raced away across the paddocks, only to find that a stretch of water and mudflat cut them off from the stranded pilot, who could bo seen walking along the sand on tho island. Cause of the Landing. After some delay, two mechanics with a supply of petrol went to tho island. Tho cause of the forced landing was a blocked jet in tho carburettor, which stopped tho motor just as Captain Buckley, who was flying only about 100 ft. up, was about to cross the strip of mud and water to the mainland. He made a turn into tho wind successfully, landing on a small, hard beach, only to strike a soft patch just at the end of his short run. The wheels (sank in and the machine was thrown forward on its nose, fortunately without any damage. When tho machine was righted and the trouble rectified the mechanics held tho machine while Captain Buckley raced the engine and when' tho machine was released he took it up with a run of only a few yards, landing at tho aerodrome to tak.o part in further events. The next event, tho race for the interclub challenge -trophy presented by tho proprietors of tho New Zealand Herald, was one of the closest events of the day, the result being in doubt until tho finish. The four starters were:—Canterbury, Mr. D. E. Grigg; Marlborough, Miss P. Bennett; Hawke's Bay, Mr. D. H. Newbegin; and Auckland, Mr. G. M. Firth. Miss Bennett held tho lead from the start well into tho second lap, when Mr. Newbogin overtook her, to win narrowly. All the pilots flew with confidence and ability, their display comparing most favourably with that given by the competitors in the Derby. Tho only weakness apparent was at the start, when two of the machines seemed uncertain and crowded those next to them. The gathering was then given an opportunity to see tho aeroplanes at close quarters, the machines being slowly taxied round the fonce-line in the grand parade.

After circling the ground the leader, Captain J. Seabrook, took off, followed at intervals by the other competitors, who formed a circle through which tho leader dived to land again. The other machines followed suit, although some broke off to give an exhibition of stunt-flying, which brought the spectators on tiptoe with excitement. Captain McGregor in particular raised the enthusiasm of the crowd to the highest pitch with rolls, loops and spins, terminating his exhibition by flying upside down. Probably the most popular event of the day was "bombing the baby." A "baby" Austin car was driven up and down the aerodrome while two flights of two machines each endeavoured to hit it with small' paper bags filled with flour. Not one of tho four pilots was able to register a direct hit. Tho most successful was Lieutenant Allan.

Public interest was keen in the height estimating competition. An Auckland club machine rose to a considerable height and then Veroy lights were fired, those enter ing the competition being required to estimate its height when tho lights were fired. Although the machine wns only a speck, the crowd had no difficulty in picking it up when the flares wero fired. The results of this contest will bo announced to-morrow

Tho second bombing exhibition was notable for the appearance of a Fairey 111. F machine from tho Hobsonvillo air base. As soon as its approach was announced, three Moths took the air to intercept it and a stirring mimic battle followed, the Fairoy breaking through its attackers to cross and recross an ammunition dump at the far end of tho ground and drop its bombs.

Owing to tho high wind Wing-Com-mander Grant-Dalton would not sanction tho parachute descent which was to have been made by Captain Jonnassen, of Thamer* For the same reason another novelty event, "balloon strafing," in which pilots wero to have driven their machines at small hydrogen-filled balloons, could not be held. The next event was a display of formation flying by ten machines in arrowhead formation, the leador being Captain Buckley. During tho afternoon between events thero wero several exhibitions of crazy flying and stunting, while Lieutenant Allan and Captain McGregor were seen in a "dog-fight" in which they indulged in all the manoeuvres used by war fliers, to get on an enemy's tail. Another thrilling exhibition was given by Major G. A. C. Cowper, who went over in two successive loops over the centre of the ground at a very low altitude. At the conclusion of tho pageant another spectacle was provided by tho visiting machines taking off on tho return journey to the Hobsonvillo air base, where most of them wero housed for the night. The results aro as follows:

NEW ZEALAND AERIAL DERBY.

Pilots who have flown 40 hours' solo.

First Heat.—Captain M. Buckley (Air Force), 1; Lieutenant lan Keitli (New Plymouth), 2. Second Heat.—Captain McGregor (Hamilton), 1; Major G. A. C. Cowper (Hamilton), 2. Third Ileat.—Captain J. Seabrook (Auckland), 1; Mr. D. Mill (Hobsonville), 2. Fourth Heat.—Captain W. S. R. Bloomfield (Auckland), 1; Captain • Stedman (Wellington), 2. Final. —Captain McGregor, 1; CaptaiD Bloomfield, 2; Captain Seabrook, 3. Tho semi-final was not properly decided, owing to Captain Buckley's misfortune, and so tho winners of tho second, third and fourth heats started in the final. McGregor repeated his performance of the second heat, taking tho lead on the first corner. Ho was well ahead at the last bend, and finished 200 yards ahead of Bloomfield, with Seabrook a similar distance back, third.

INTER-CLUB CHALLENGE RACE. New Zealand Herald Trophy. Hawke's Bay and East Coast (D. H. Newbegin) . . . • k. 1 Marlborough (Miss P. Bennett) «. 2 Canterbuiy (D. E. Grigg) .. *.3 Auckland (G. M. Firth) . . k. 4 This event provided one of the most interesting contests of tho day. The Canterbury machine rocked badly at the takeoff, and one of the wings almost touched tho ground, but the pilot straightened up his machine, and got off with the others. Firth, who started from tho outsido position, was at a disadvantage, and lost ground at the first turn. Tho other three machines were in a bunch 200 yards ahead, with Miss Bennett leading from Newbegin. As tho machines passed over tho hangar at the beginning of tho last lap Miss Bennett was sti" ahead, but Newbegin had ciosca up, and passed the Marlborough pilot between the bends. The finish was exciting, as Newbegin had no sooner passed tho mark than Miss Bennett and Grigg came up together, so close that it appeared they must collide. Grigg veered away, and Firth crossed tho line, having been unable to make up tho distance lost at tho start. Considering that tho course was between 20 and 30 miles in length, tho finish was particularly closo. LANDING COMPETITIONS. " A " Licence Pilots. Mr. F. R. Dix (Marlborough) *. 1 Mr. D. H. Newbegin (Hawke's Bay) • 2 " B " Licence Pilots. Major G. A. C. Cowper (Hamilton) . . 1 Captain M. C. McGregor (Hamilton) . 2 Lieutenant D. M. Allan (Auckland) . . 3 Landings in tho "B" class were excellent. Major Cowper, the winner, brought his machine down in an easy glide, sideslipped for a moment, and made a perfect "three-pointer," finishing up within tho required circle. BOMBING THE "BABY.'! Lieutenant D. M. Allan (Auckland) . . 1 Captain M. C. McGregor (Hamilton) . 2 A "baby" car, driven by Mr. P. Seabrook, made erratic dashes about tho landing field, and the pilots, who were armed with paper bags filled with flour, were called upon to "bomb" the car. No direct hits were registered, as tho high wind carried tho "bombs" wido of the mark, but several "bombs" fell only a few feet away, covering the occupants of tho car with flour.