The Aviation World

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21758, 24 March 1934, Page 5 (Supplement)

The Aviation World

AUCKLAND AERO CLUB NEWS BY AIL EBON The accident that overtook the Auckland Aero Club's Moth ZK-AAL a week ago to-day, resulting in the death of the president, Mr. E. R. Boucher, and injuries to the secretary, Mr. L. W. Swan, is the gravest in the history of the club. Mr. Boucher, who was an experienced pilot and a highiy esteemed officer of the club, is sincerely mourned by all members. His qualities of-leader-ship. nnd the fact that he was a skilled and careful aviator, raaa» him an ideal president. The machine concerned was the first acquired by the club and had been in use for about five years. It had between 1600 and 1700 flying hours to its credit, and was on loan to the club by the Government. The Moth was one of the earliest of its series, the engine number being 32, and it was one of the first issued to clubs by the Government. Until recently, when the standard colour-scheme of orange and silver was adopted for the club's fleet, the Moth was better known to pilots and visitors to the aerodrome as the " red," to distinguish it from the blue, green, orange and metal machines. Although it had been in use for a comparatively long period, and had been used by the majority of club pilots for their first solo, ZK-AAL had never been crashed. It had been involved in a number of minor accidents, in many of which slight damage was caused, but was extremely well carctl for by the ground staff and was in excellent condition. The propeller also had quite a history of its own. It had survived a collision with a fence and a partial capsize on the aerodrome, either of which might have resulted in its being broken. It was the Bame airscrew that caused an injury to a former ground engineer at Mangere, Mr. R. J. Copley, who accidentally placed one hand within the propeller's arc while the motor was running. Gear Stolen by Vandals Shortly before leaving Mangere aerodrome on what was to be its last trip, ZK-AAL was fitted with a new "doughnut " tyres, a new compass, fresh harness and a cockpit heater. The heater was added largely because the machine was to be taken to th<j South Island for the Hokitika pageant last Saturday, and it was considered that the additional fitting would result in greater comfort for the pilot and passenger. Although the machine was almost completely wrecked, there was still sufficient equipment of value to attract the attention of vandals. Thieves stole the two magnetos and the carburetter, all of which are fairly easily detachable, and it was also found that the axles were missing. Squadron-Leader J. Seabrook; club captain, brought back the instruments to Auckland, and also the new set of tryes. The theft of equipment from the wrecked plane has been reported to the Wellington police, and an inquiry is being made. Apart from the engine, instruments and tyres, the machine was almost totally destroyed, and it is likely that the wreckage will be burned. Arrangements have been made with the staff of the Wellington Aero Club to dismantle the engine and take it on a pack-horse from the difficult country in .which the crash occurred. As the machine was the property of the Government, the disposal of such parts as may ultimately prove of value will rest with the Director of Air Services, Squadron-Leader T. M. Wilkes. Although no definite arrangements had been made during the week, hopes were entertained that the engine might possibly be returned to Mangere for use as a spare. The Aero Olub Fleet The Auckland Aero Club has two other machines on loan from the Government, ZK-AAK and ZK-ACC, one being stationed at Mangere and the other at Te Rapa. The loss of ZK-AAL leaves the club with five ordinary Moths and the Puss Moth, and hopes are entertained that the authorities responsible will see fit to issue another Moth to replace that wrecked last Saturday. Such procedure has been followed in certain other cases where Government machines on loan to clubs have been wrecked.

Three of tlie club's machines will take part in the official North Island pageant to he held at Hastings to-day. It was planned for the three Moths to leave Mangere at noon yesterday. The wellknown ZK-AATJ, invariably used by the chief instructor, Flight-Lieutenant D. M. Allan for his popular exhibitions of aerobatics, was to be flown to Hastings by Mr. W. J. Sexton, vice-captain of the club, and arrangements had been made for Mr. Allan, who attended the recent refresher course at Wigram, to give a display at Hastings to-day, and also to take part in the various competitions. During the week the groundstaff was engaged in re-covering the tail-plane of ZK-AAK prior to the trip to Hastings. At a meeting of the committee held this week, Mr. Spencer R. Mason, formerly president of the club, was elected chairman of the executive. There was no discussion concerning the election of a president to replace the lato Mr. Boucher, but the opinion was later expressed by a prominent member that the matter would be allowed to stand over until the end of the financial year. The arrangements made for a visit to Mangere by the Southern Cross tomorrow have been cancelled at the request of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith. It had originally been planned to carry out passenger work with the big monoplane. Improvements to parts of the road between Onehunga and Mangere aerodrome have been carried out and more comfortable travelling has resulted. Workmen are still engaged in patching several portions of the tar-sealed section. THE CENTENARY AIR RACE De Havilland'B £SOOO racer for the London-Melbourne Centenary air race in October this year is named the " Comet." Mr. J. A. Mollison has ordered one, aud serious negotiations for the purchase of others make likely the appearance in the race of five or six of them in all. The " Comet " had to be ordered under novel conditions. One-fifth of the purchase price had to be deposited at the time of placing orders, which were accepted up to the end of last month. This sum is recoverable if the company fails to fulfil the terms of its contract, which are that the machine will comply with the technical and other requirements of the contest, that its top speed will be not less than 200 miles an hour, that it will be equipped for a crew of two, aud that it will be delivered to the purchaser before tlie end of September. No details of the machine will be disclosed, however, even to buyers, until after the closing date for entries for the race. Pilots who aro considering participation in the event are studying ways and means of taking best advantage of the governing conditions. The rules imply,, for example, that only one occupant of any racing 'plane, styled the " pijot-in-charge," need travel in the machine all through the race. Here is an opportunity for the use of relays of second pilots, men who would be taken on board at Karachi, Culcutta and Singapore to help the pilot-in-charge over the next part of the journey. Naturally, men selected for this work would be chosen for their personal knowledge of the section of the route that each would fly. The gain to the entrant would be considerable.