AERO PAGEANT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21759, 26 March 1934, Page 11

AERO PAGEANT

NORTH ISLAND EVENT SPECTACULAR NIGHT FLYING [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] HASTINGS, Sunday Forty aeroplanes, representing almost every club in New Zealand, besides four machines from the Air Force, and several others privately owned took part in the North Island air pageant at Hastings aerodrome yesterday. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith participated in the pageant.

The gathering was a great success and was notable for the fact that it was the first occasion on which an air pageant in New Zealand had included a programme of night flying. The events in the evening were given in illuminated machines and were particularly spectacular. Interest was added by "a night parachute descent bv Mr. "Scotty" Eraser, whose performance was the first of its kind in New Zealand. Sir Charles made a number of flights at night as well as during the day. The attendance figures are not yet available, but it is officially estimated that 3000 cars were parked in and about the grounds. The competitions resulted:— Boys Cup, for landing.—Buchanan (Wairarapa - Ruahine), 1; Cadman (Auckland), 2; Honeyfield (Manawatu), 3. Stead Cup, for bombing.—McGaffin (Manawatu), 1; Sexton (Auckland), 2; Lynn (New Plymouth), 3. Newhigin Cup, for aerobatics.—Sexton, 1; Brian Boys (Hawke's Bay), 2; Huelianan, 3. All Transport Race.—N. Kivell (Westland), 1; Linklater (Manawatu), 2; Buchanan, 3. The results of the Cory Wright Navigation Cup contest are not yet available.

AUCKLAND MACHINES RETURN GOOD WEATHER EXPERIENCED The three machines belonging to the Auckland Aero Club which flow to Hastings on Friday to take part in the North Island air pageant returned to the Mangere aerodrome shortly after mid-day yesterday. Good weather was experienced during the whole of the trip and the return journey was made in just over three and a-quarter hours.