AEROPLANES IN STORM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20622, 22 July 1930, Page 8

AEROPLANES IN STORM.

FORCED LANDING MADE.

LONG BATTLE WITH GALE. FUEL SUPPLIES EXHAUSTED, [BY TELEGRAPH.-- OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CHRISTCHURCH. Monday. Two aeroplanes from the Marlborough Aero Club cm a journey to Christchureh yesterday bar] to make a thrilling forced landing at Waipara. They were driven down after a long battle with a head-wind of gale force and the landing va s niad* safely just, before the force of the storm reached its height. One aeroplane had narrow escape from being damaged when a violent gust swung it round on one, wing tip.

The machines weie two Gipsy Mollis and the party was in the charge of Mr F. Dix, son of the president of the club. A start was made from the aerodrome early in the morning and heavy weather was encountered. The light aeroplane* had a long and strenuous battle with x southerly head-wind, which increased in force, and the distance to Wm'para, nboub 150 miles, occupied three hours. Over that district the pilots saw that the centre of the storm was a little ahead of thorn and their fuel supply was running very low. A landing was necessary, and after circling three times over Waipara the aeroplanes landed in the paddock of Mr. A. S. George. An excellent lauding was made under very difficult circumstances. A few minutes after the aeroplanes had landed the storm broke and one of them was spun round on the tip of one winjA before the men could secure it. Fortuuntely no serious damage resulted, and willing helpers assisted in taking the aeroplanes under the trees.

One of the machines had used its supply of fuel and the other had sufficient left for a few more miles only. The stage covered bad used 19 gallons of petrol. More petrol was secured from Waipara and at 3.45 p.m., when there was a lull iri the storm, the party continued the trip to Christchurch.