FLYING COMPETITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20965, 31 August 1931, Page 12

FLYING COMPETITION.

CLUB-TRAINED PILOTS. CONTEST AT AERODROME. SPECIAL DISPLAYS GIVEN. The first of a series of contests for the Thome Trophy, presented to the Auckland Aero Club by Mr. F. W. Thorne, for formation living competitions among members, attracted a large crowd io the Mangero aerodrome on Saturday afternoon. Flying conditions were good, although tho air was rather bumpy, and one or two pilots made indifferent landings. Twelve club-trained pilots, three in each team, took part in the competition, anad there was little to choose between the first three teams. The judge, WingCommander K. L. Caldwell, commented favourably on the high standard of flying displayed by the. competitors, and the capable manner in which the formations manoeuvred. The three machines used, tho red, blue and yellow Moths, had been specially prepared by the ground staff for " the occasion, and made a fine picture as they moved in formation at 1000 feet.

Each team was required to take dff in formation, tho leader in front, and one of tho other pilots on each sid.e and to tho rear of tho foremost machine. After climbing to 1000 feet, each formation made a gentlo left-hand circuit of tho areadrome, flew down wind, turned, and flew up wind past the aerodrome. The competitors then finished with a gentle 90 degrees right turn, followed by a gentlo 90 degrees left turn, and after breaking up, landed in the order of taking off. Two of the teams remained in formation until they landed, while the other two executed stall turns in unison and landed one at a time. The contest was won by Mr. E. B. Firth (leader), Mr. E. B. Waters and Mr. G. H. Fisher, with 735 points out of a possible 800. The second team, Mr. R. A. Kirkup (leader), Mr. A. McGruer and Mr. J Aiwell, gained 710 points, the third team, Mr. G. M. Firth (loader), Miss G. Peacock and Mr. T. Philcox, 695 points, and the fourth, Mr. P. C. Lewis (leader), Mr. G. M. Owen and Mr. J. M. Stevenson, 420 points. During the afternoon many of the visitors enjoyed flights in the Puss Moth, while exhibitions of gliding were given by several pilots in the locally-built Hawk machine. Many good flights were made, tho best lasting 27 seconds. x\n exhibition of "stunting" was given by the instructor, Flight-Lieutenant D. M. Allan, who used the orango machine and carried a passenger. A series of dives close to the ground, followed by zooms at steep angles, thoroughly entertained tho crowd, while more complicated evolutions at a higher altitude thrilled the many visitors.