AEROPLANE LEAVES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20893, 8 June 1931, Page 10

AEROPLANE LEAVES.

HAWKER TOMTIT MACHINE. FLIGHT TO CHRISTCHURCH. Flying the Hawker Tomtit all-metal biplane which has been on loan to the Ilobsonville air base for advanced training during tlio past fortnight, 1< light-Lieut-enant M. W. Buckley left the air base for Christchnrcli on Saturday morning. At the end of last week he brought the Faircy JII.F machine back from the South, where it had been engaged in aerial survey work at Maniatoto, Central Otago, since the beginning of the year. The Hawker Tomtit left at about 9 a.m. on Saturday in splendid weather conditions. Owing to the strong southerly head wind, however, it was not intended to complete the trip to Sockburn aerodrome, Christchurch, in a single day. According to information received Flight-Lieutenant Buckley reached Blenheim on Saturday afternoon, after having made a stop at Hawera cn route. He expected to continue tho trip to Christchurch yesterday. With the return of tlio Fa.rey III.F and the departure of the Hawker Tomtit there are now five machines in commission at tlio Ilobsonville air base. In addition to (lie Fairev 111. F., which was equipped as a land machine before it left for the South last December, there are the Cutty Sark flying-boat, a Gipsy Moth machine fitted with floats, and two standard Gipsy Moth aeroplanes. The Fairey 11I.F will again bo converted into a seaplane this week, probably on Wednesday. This means that there will then be three sea craft and two land machines in use. Owing to Government restrictions no details are available of the aerial survey operations in Central Otago, but it is understood that in recent months an area of 500 square miles lias been surveyed. Tho actual surveying was accomplished in about 25 flying hours. Tho surveying of a similar area under ordinary methods would occupy about fivo years.