AIR FORCE TRAINING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21141, 26 March 1932, Page 10

AIR FORCE TRAINING.

CAMP AT HOBSONVILLE. NAVIGATIONAL EXERCISES. 6 LANDING UNDER DIFFICULTIES. An informal inspection of No. 1 (Army-Co-operation) Squadron, New Zealand Air Force, which is at present in camp at, Hobsonville air base, was made by Colonel J. 10. Duigan, officer commanding tho Northern Command, Sir Richardson and Major 11. Miles on Thursday. The visitors were received by WingCommander K. L. Caldwell, SquadronLeader T. M. Wilkes, director of air services, Squadron-Leader H M. Isitt, oflicer commanding tho Hobsonville base, and Squadron-Loader J. Soabrook, commanding No. 1 Squadron. Sines tho visit was informal, no departure from tho routine training was made, the guests watching the various exercises carried out by some 25 officers of tho squadron. During tho morning, tho Faircy 111F.. which was in use as a seaplane, made a long flight over the Hauraki Gulf as a navigational exercise. Flight-Lieutenant S. Wullingford, who was flying the machine, had his course plotted out for him by two officers of the squadron whom ho was carrying as passengers. Other trainees wero given instruction in tho handling of machines with which they were not familiar, a number having been trained exclusively on Moths and being, therefore, unaccustomed to tho Hawker Tomtit and th e Bristol Fighter in use at the base. Formation flying was carried out in the afternoon by five Moth machines, the leader being Flight-Lieutenant J. D. Ilewett. The machines circled over tho aerodrome in various formations, finally coining in to land in succession. Individual exercises occupied tho remainder of tho afternoon, most of tho pilots having further training in the Tomtit. A successful landing under difficulties was mado bv one of tho junior officers. 110 was carrying out aerobatics with the Tomtit and during a loop, the centrifugal forco proved sufficient to cause, the base of the pilot's seat to collapse, with the result that ho was seated virtually on the floor of the cockpit. Flying in this position mado little difference while in the air, but as he came down tc land, the pilot was in a difficulty. From his low-set seat lie was unable to seo over the side to judge bis landing, and was unable to raise himself from tho floor as ho could not then have reached tho ruddor-bar. Under the circumstances, lie had tc make a landing largely by guess-work and although the machine bounced badly, it came safely to rest after skimming nearly the whole width of the aerodrome. The course will conclude on \\ ednesday.