RACE IN THE AIR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21224, 2 July 1932, Page 13

RACE IN THE AIR.

COURSE OF 500 MILES.

test of navigation.

PROMISING pilot killed

[FROM our own correspondent.] LONDON, May 27. Thirty machines took part in a cross

country air raco organised by the Mornj,jg Post last Saturday. Tho raco was to test tho navigational skill of pilots, and the three sections of tho f3U rse were kept secret until tho moment dl departure. It was then left to competitors to find their, way with the aid e [ maPi compass and landmarks to the ■various turning points. jlr. F. Iv. V\ alker, of Liverpool, an amateur pilot, who has been flying only three years and had never taken part in 3 race before, was the winner. Ho flew his own I'uss Moth cabin aeroplane and made a" average speed over the whole course, 479 mi'les long, of 108.5 miles an hour. Mr. John Grierson, in a Moth light aeroplane, was second; Mr. G. Paillie, in a Moth, was third; and Miss Winifred Spooner, in a Puss Moth, was fourth.

One of the missing unfortunately was flight-Lieutenant F. G. Gibbons, of No. 204 Flying Coat Squadron, who was filled through strikiiig tho top of a tree 8 t Slainton, near 'Bury St. Edmunds, vrhen flying the second lap of the course. This was no dotibt due to the bad visibility, which caused so many of tho other competitors to drop out of tho race. One other accident, in which the pilot •was not hurl,, arose from mechanical trouble. Major J, E. D. Shaw, who had to mako a forced landing in his Avian early in the race, camo down near Bletchley and had to land down wind. He steered his machine through a field gateway when he found it could not pull up in time, and the posts swept the wings pack against tho fuselago, pinning him in the cockpit and deluging him with petrol from ':he tank in the damaged centre section of the upper wing. Most Unpleasant Weather.

The course was laid over flat country in three sections between Heston and Norwich, a total distance of 500 miles, where forced landings might easily be made- and where few landmarks could lelp those who failed to make good compass courses. Low clouds and poor visibility, however, denied the competitors «y assistance from the ground. Four landed and five others returned to Heston without completing the first lap, having despaired of Ending their way in such conditions. It is a tribute to the courage »nd ability of the competitors that 24 reached Norwich from Heston.

During the circular trip from Norwich which constituted the second lap, the weather began to get worse, and several pilots evidently got off their course. Fly-ing-Officer H. R. A. Edwards had to retire at Cambridge with a petrol leak. Miss Sale-Barker, who had already lost gome time helping Major Shaw in bis forced landing, abandoned the race. Most of the others finished the second lap, and the had times of some indicated the difficulties of the task. At the end of this section the winners were in the lead, though about 11 miriufes separated them. Mr. Baillie was leading, with Miss Spooner second, Mr. Walker fourth and Mr. Grierson fifth. Mr. Gordon Selfridge, jun., in lis Puss Moth, had climbed a long way vp the list, bat was not yet among the leaders.

For the lasl, 157 miles the weather was most unpleasant. It had become thicker. Eain was falling and visibility was less than a mile. In these conditions Mr. Walker flew a magnificent course. Miss Spooner's Mistake.

Scarcely had Mr. Walker turned to /and when Miss Spooner flew over the grounds. Instead of passing in flight between the two arrows laid out on the aerodrome,-Miss Spooner turned near the control tower and landed. Instantly the judge announced that she had failed to finish according to the rules. People rushed out on the aerodrome waving to her to taxi over the line, forgetful apparently that thu rules contained the words "in flight." Miss Spooner, distracted by the frantic waving and not appreciating exactly what had happened!, taxied round and passed across the aerodrome—again on the wrong side of the siouthern arrow. There was more waving, but, meanwhile, with a War, Mr. J. Grierson swept over the aerodrome, passing correctly between the arrows, and snatching second place from Hiss Spooner. Mr. Walker's speed was 108£ miles per hour, an indication of the weather and navigation difficulties, for the machine is capable of averaging more than 120 miles an hour.

flight-Lieutenant Gibbons, who was killed, was J>3 years old and unmarried. had seen service in manv different Parts of the world and was a fine sportsman as well as a highly-skilled and experienced pilot engineer. His service extended back to 1917.