FLYING IN AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20594, 19 June 1930, Page 13

FLYING IN AUCKLAND.

GOOD PROGRESS BY. CLUB.

OVER 1300 PERSONS CARRIED.

ENTIRE ABSENCE OF MISHAPS.

Tho keen interest in private flying in Auckland was again demonstrated by the largo gathering of members which attended the second annual meeting of the Auckland Aero Club last evening. Dotails of tho annual report and balancesheet, which showed a working profit of £386 for tho year, and a profit of £12,624 from the club's art union, wero published in tho Herald on Juno 6.

"It is a great pleasure to move tho adoption of a report and balanco-sheot disclosing such a satisfactory state of affairs within less than two years," said Mr. S. R. Mason, who prcsidod.

Success ol Club's Pilots.

Tho policy of the committeo had been conservative, Tho policy of any aero club had of necessity to bo ono of caution, for tho reason that if tho committeo made a false move or any difficulty arose out of slackness,'the foundations of the club would crumble. Ono function of the club was to endeavour to establish confidence in flying. The result had been that during the year the club's planes had carried over 1300 passengers without a single mishap or without tho slightest cause for fear.

After commenting upon the excellent work done by tho committee, tho club's instructors and its ground engineer, Mr. Mason said two of tho club-trained pilots, Messrs. R. J. Crosbio and L. Anderson, had been tentatively admitted to tho Royal Air Force, and threo others, Messrs. T. B. Pliilcox, G. SI. Firth and E. Luks, had completed 40 hours' flying, and wero now entitled to carry a passenger. It was with regret that the committeo received tho resignations of several of its foundation members, Captains J. Seabrook, W. S. R. Bloomfield and E. Dickson and Mr. W. A. Boucher. The club was very deeply indebted to those ex-pilots, who had brought into it a spirit of caution and care that was tho Outcome of long association with flying. Mr. E. C. Huie, in seconding ' the motion, referred to tho excellent financial position disclosed in the balance-sheet. Although another year had passed without tho establishment of an organised flying service in Now Zealand, he believed such a service was not far distant. Already ono commercial company employed an aeroplane and a qualified pilot, and in another 12 months many firms would be keeping their own machines.

Election of Officers.

Officers for tho year were elected as follows:—President, Mr. S. R. Mason; club captain, Mr. E. R. Boucher; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr. L. W. Swan; committee,- Messrs. S. A. Andrew, F. B. Cadman, C. W. Cory-Wright, I. C. Horton, C. M. Richwhite and C. G. Scrimgeour; auditor, Mr. G. W. Hutchison. Tho following were added to tho list of last year's vice-presidents who wero re-elected: —Mr. R. Burns, Mr. E. Horton, Mr. G. Henning, Mr. W. A. Boucher, Captain J. Seabrook, Captain W. S. R. Bloomfield and Captain E. Dickson. Offers of trophies for club competitions from Major K. L. Caldwell and Mr. F. W. Thorne were accepted with thanks.

A vote of thanks was accorded to tho retiring president, Mr. Robert Burns, for his interest in tho foundation of the club and his contribution toward its progress in the early stages. Votes of thanks wero also nccorded the secretary and the members of the outgoing committee.

EARLY FLYING SCHOOL.

HONOUR TO FOUNDERS.

TRAINING OF WAR PILOTS

The first life members of the Auckland Aero Club wero elected at the annual meeting last evoning when the honour was bestowed upon Messrs. R. A. Dexter, L. A. Walsh and V. Walsh.

Those names wore associated with the beginning of flying in Auckland, stated Mr. S. Mason, the president of the club. Every Aucklander was proud of their flying school at Kohimarama arid the excellent work it did. About 113 pupils were trained thero and they were trained with remarkable freedom from untoward incident, considering tho early stage of flying at the time. Mr. Dexter bad lent financial aid which, with the energy and courage of the Walsh brothers, had made the school possible. " Very few people know of all the filings we had to overcome," said Mr. Dexter in reply. Ninety-six pilots were actually trained and sent to England. A few others wero left at tho signing of llio Armistice and although their training was finished they were not counted. The building of the first flying boat was started two years before tho war began. Mr. V. Walsh learned to fly that boat and Messrs. Caldwell and Calandar wero the first pupils. Some of tho pilots, trained wero killed at the front, some returned, and one was decorated for driving off a Zeppelin during an attack on London.