AVIATION NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 22734, 9 November 1935, Page 15

AVIATION NOTES

(By

“Contact.”)

Chib News. The flying times of last month, although less than half the total for the previous month, were quite satisfactory when the adverse weather prevailing at that time is considered. The detailed times are: Pupils: Dual,. 10hr. 15min; solo, —. A pilots, Dual, 2 hr. 50min; solo, 17hr. 50min; pass., 7hr. 25min; B pilots, Gipsy Moth, shr 45min; Fox Moth, lOhr. 45 min, total, 54hr. 50min. It will be noticed that there was no solo flying by pupils, but when one remembers the high winds that were blowing practically all the month, the reason becomes obvious. As if to make up for lost time last month, the pilots of the club put in a good deal of flying time last week. On Tuesday last Dr McNickle flew to Queenstown on professional business, and, while he was away, Pilot G. H. Davies, of Queenstown, took advantage of the presence of the machine to show a couple of friends the beauty of Queenstown from the air. The sheep at Queenstown evidently disliked the presence of ZK—ADM, as the paintwork of the machine in places was attacked and removed. However, no serious damage was done to the machine. Pilot H. Boyle, of Heddon Bush, on the same day, did some solo flying from the home aerodrome. The usual Wednesday afternoon training was put in at Gore last week, Flight-Lieutenant Smith and Pilot J. M. C. Smith taking a machine each there. Trainees R. Thompson, H. Fraser, W. Dickson, W. Adams and R. Knowles had some dual instruction, while Pilots A. Williamson and* V. Falconer did some solo flying, after which Pilot Williamson took up a passenger. Saturday afternoon at Myross Bush was very busy for all. Pilot R. Walker flew to Winton. Pilot G. H. Davies, accompanied by Pilot J. Carrick, flew to Fortrose, Pilot D. Cross, took up a passenger, and Pilots Walker and Crombie, and Dr Abbott did some local flying. Towards the close of the afternoon a landing and bombing competition was held, the judging being in the capable hands of Mr Arnold McDonald. The detailed results, with handicaps subtracted, are: J. H. Stevenson (South Otago Aero Club) 45; W. B. Reekie 42; R. Walker 42; J. Crombie 40; F. Finlayson, E. Mitchell 37; D. Cross 36; J. W. Johnston 35; E. R. Curtis 34; J. McC. Smith 34.

In the evening, the pilots of the club gave a farewell social evening to Mi- A. N. Patterson, and at the same time took the opportunity of welcoming the new engineer, Mr F. J. Adams. Mr H. J. Macalister, on behalf of the club, presented Mr Patterson with a wallet containing a cheque. Pilot W. B. Reekie on behalf of the pilots, presented him with an engraved wrist-watch . and Flight-Lieutenant Smith, on behalf of the staff, presented a picture, “The Union Company Takes to the Air,” which depicted an ocean liner, liberally bedecked with eero engines, wings, propellers, wheels and other aeroplane impedimenta. Mr Patterson suitably replied, and Mr Adams was officially welcomed. The endorsed A pilots of the club are very pleased with adjustments in the flying rates of the club. The rates for endorsed A pilots are now the same as solo rates. This should bring about increased flying hours for the club, and thereby justify the decreased cost.

On Sunday morning, Pilot A. Williamson, of Gore, accompanied by Trainee R. Knowles, flew down over Bluff, while Pilot J. McC. Smith flew to Gore, and returned with Trainee W. Dickson, of that town. In the afternoon Flight-Lieutenant Smith was kept busy with flights in the Fox Moth and giving dual instruction to Trainees W. Adams and R. Knowles. Pilots D. Cross and R. Walker did some solo flying, and Pilot J. McC. Smith accompanied by Pilot F. J. Adams had a flight over town. Later Pilot Adams took up one of our Moths for the first time, and showed us some good aerobatics. Pilots A. J. Bradshaw and W. A. Cameron flew to Christchurch on Saturday, where the former took over the Puss Moth he had purchased from Sir Bruce Stewart. The Puss Moth is the only monoplane in these parts, and is registered as ZK-ACX. Pilot Bradshaw flew -ACX down on Sunday, and Pilot Cameron returned with -ADM. A Soviet Speciality.

A feature of the Soviet National Air Meeting held near Moscow recently, was the simultaneous descent from six large bombers of 150 parachutists. Trained dogs equipped, presumably, with parachutes operated by static lines, were also dropped overboard.

The Way of an Eagle. A pilot of the Ontario Air Service, noticing a heronry with an carle’s nest in a nearby tree, approached to examine the birds. The eagle, a giant of its kind, believing that the aeroplane intended to damage its nest, flew straight at the machine. Fearing serious damage if a collision occurred, the pilot endeavoured to out-manoeuvre the bird and eventually managed to shake it off. This, of course, is by no means the first encounter a pilot has had with one of these birds.

Dive-bombing in Sweden. The Hawker “Harts” acquired some time back by the Swedish Air Force have recently engaged on dive-bombing trials, using land and sea targets. It is understood that the experiments have supported the evidence given during years of dive-bombing practice in England of the deadly accuracy of this form of attack. During the steep dive, in which the machines are aimed at the target, speeds up to, and at times over, 300 m.p.h. are attained before the bombs are released and the machines pulled out on to a level keel. Sweden has acquired tlie license to build “Harts” in her own factories, and it is understood that a new batch of fifty machines is now under construction.