NEW ZEALAND'S SHARE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21396, 20 October 1934, Page 9 (Supplement)

NEW ZEALAND'S SHARE

DOMINION WELL REPRESENTED PROMINENT PILOTS COMPETING HOPES FOR HANDICAP VICTORY New Zealand is directly represented in the international air race with two machines, while a third aeroplane, entered by an Englishman formerly resident in the Dominion, is to be flown by an Aueklander. In spite of early fears that the Dominion would have nothing more than a casual interest in the event, there will be six New Zealanders among the crews of the machines that face the starter at Mildenhall, Suffolk, to-day, and their fortunes in the greatest race of history will command the attention of the whole country. There is particular interest for local residents in the fagt that the six New Zealand airmen include ;"four from Auckland, Squadron-Loader J. D. Hewett, Flying-Officer C. E. Kay, Mr. F. Stewart and Flying-Officer H. D. Gilman. The other two are Manawatu pilots, Squadron-Leader M. C. McGregor and Mr. H. C. Walker, whose Miles Hawk machine is one of the smallest in the race. The Auckland team, Squadron-Leader Hewett, FlyingOfficer Kay and Mr. Stewart, are using a de Havilland Rapide, while FlyingOfficer Gilman will be at the controls of a military type, a Fairey Fox entered by Mr. J. K. C. Baines, cf Sussex.

The Manawatu entry has been nominated for the handicap section only, while the other two machines are competitors in both divisions. Although even the most enthusiastic supporter of the New Zealand airmen can hardly dare to hope for one of the three machines proving successful in the speed contest, in view of the extremely keen competition offered by specially-built craft, a Dominion victory in the handicap section is well within the bounds of possibility. The pilots are all experi-

enced men, the machines are products of leading English factories, and eacL' of the three crews is intent upon placing the name of New Zealand high in the honours list. Two of the five New Zealanders in the race have distinguished war records, and are pilots of rare experience. Squadron-Leader Hewett, who was born at Kihikihi, received a commission in the Royal Flying Corps in 3916, and up to the present he has flown over 2600 hours, having had experience of 26 types of machine. His own Moth aeroplane, " Falcon," is well known in practically every corner of the Dominion, and in addition to doing a i&st amount of civil flying, he also takes an active part in military aviation, having recently been promoted squadronleader to command No. 1 (Army Cooperation) Squadron, New Zealand Territorial Air Force.

Squadron-Leader McGregor, who was born in Hunterville 38 y£irs ago, took his first lessons in flying at the school conducted by the Walsh brothers at Kohiinarama. In 1916 he went to Eng-

land, and after completing his training, joined the Royal Flying Corps. He went to France with the original ,57th Squadron early in 1917, and_ later was selected hv the famous " ace," Major Bishop, V.C., as one of the pilots for " Bishop's Circus." He remained witb this band of noted aviators until the end of the war, his exploits. winning him the Distinguished Flying Cross and promotion to the rank of captain. Squadron-Leader McGregor, although reticent concerning his war record, is reputed to have brought down more enemy machines than any other Jfew Zealand pilot. .. . , ; A third Aucklander, one of SquadronLeader Hewett's partners in the venture, is Flying-Officer Kay,: who has also had wide experience .in aviation, having gained distinction in blind !' flying and navigation. He was also awarded the highest gliding certificate offered ir» Germany, being 1 the first Britisher to achieve this. He has flown both military and civil types of; machine, and has visited most of the capitals of Europe in his capacity as a commercial pilot. In 1930 he flew from England to Australia with FlyingOfficer H. L. Piper, formerly of Christchurch, in a Desoutter monoplane, 'l'he experience gained on this earlier trip should stand him in good stead during the present flight. The third member of the crew, Mr. Stewart, will act as wireless operator. Although he is not a pilot, he has had considerable flying experience with Squadron-Leader Hewett. . ; . •

The two other Dojninion representatives, Flying-Officer Gilman and Mr. Walker, are both pilots of experience. Flying-Officer Gilman, who has a record of 2400 flying hours, transferred from the Army to the Royal Air Force some years ago, and has completed some 1500 hours on military types. He was one of the first to advocate New Zealand being represented in the races, yet he himself was able to enter only by good luck, when at the last minute he met an enthusiast, Mr. J. K. C. Baines, who offered to put up the necessary money for the machine. The aeroplane chosen is a Fairey Fox with a Felix engine, a modified military type of high performance. Its cruising speed is about 190 to 200 miles an hour, and its range some 1750 miles. Mr. Walker, who is captain* of the Manawatu Club, will accompany Squad-ron-Leader McGregor in a Miles Hawk, a small two-seater monoplane fitted with a Gipsy Major engine. The top speed is 150-160 miles an hour. The machine, a low-wing full-cantilever craft, is recognised as a solidly-built little aeroplane with a performance well above the average. The de Havilland Rapide purchased by the New Zealand Centenary Air Race Committee * for the use of Squadron - Leader Hewett, FlyingOfficer Kay and Mr. Stewart, V which bears the \ racing number 60, l\ is a cabin-type bin\ plane ~ with two Gipsy Six engines. B\ The machine has been called Tainui, HI and is specially Hi equipped with ad■l ditional inst ru■l ments and extra HI tanks for the long ■I journey. It is par-, VI ticularl.v well ■I suited for landing H on, and taking off / from small aerodromes, and is considered an ideal " mount " for tha handicap section.