AERIAL TOUR OVER ISLAND

Taranaki Daily News, 7 October 1929, Page 11

AERIAL TOUR OVER ISLAND

VISIT OF AUCKLAND PLANES ARRIVAL AT BELL BLOCK ’DROME. FOUR MACHINES HOUSED AT ONCE. On a tour of the North Island with a new to carrying out prospecting for Mnding grounds, two Auckland Aero Club Moth aeroplanes, accompanied by a private plane, arrived at the New Plymouth Aero Club’s aerodrome at Bell Block from Auckland shortly after midday on Saturday. They were greeted by an, enthusiastic crowd, including numbers of school children who had made a special trip,. and after making flights in the afternoon and yesterday are to leave for Wanganui this morning about 10 o’clock. The night will be spent there and ,to-morrow the planes intend flying to Wellington. -• Together with the Hamilton Airways’ "plane piloted by (£apt. McGregor, who returned the:same morning from Wellington, there were four planes at the landing ground during the week-end, more than have ever been there _at once before, and in addition to stunting the public witnessed a perfect exhibition of' formation flying. There were to har/e been five planes, but the machine which the Hawkes’ Bay Aero Club had promised to send was unable to make the trip on account of a number of pupils having ; to be put through tests. The planes belonging to the Auckland Club were piloted by Major G. A. C. Cowper, who is in charge of the tour, and Captain W. 8. R. Bloomfield. The third plane was a private machine owned and flown by Mr, I. C. Horton, a member of the Auckland club. The passengers carried were respectively Mr. K. R. Hackett, of the-staff of the New Zealand Herald, Mr. R. J. Copley, ground engineer of the Auckland club, and Mr. R, Claire, photographer. ;"•< FORMATION FLYING. The planes were not able to leave Auckland as early as was expected on account of a fog over the Manukau and the fact that Major Cowper had to put through a pupil for his pilot’s certificate. They eventually cleared Auckland at 10 o’clock and were sighted , coming from the direction of Waitara at 12.20 p.m. Seven minutes later they were circling over the aerodrome, and though Captain McGregor attempted to lead them over the town in' accordance with a pre-arranged plan to draw the public’s attention to the presence of the planes they refused the bait and landed on the ground. At th© request of the club, however, they took off again and made a formation flight over the-town in Southern Cross positions. A welcome was extended to the air : men by a representative gathering of citizens, including the Mayor (Mr. V. 8. Griffiths), Messrs. J. S. Connett, E. A. George, G. M. Spence, S. E.-Nielson, J. McLeod,’ F. T. Bellringer, A. F. Sandford'and Major A. E. Conway. Apologies for absence were received by Mr.' Spence from the Minister of Defence (the Hon. T.,M. Wilford), Messrs. S. G. Smith, W. J. Broadfoot and other members of Parliament. Mr. Griffiths expressed his pleasure at the airmen’s action. He trusted the graceful flight and the perfect landing they had made would serve as a reminder to the boys and girls -who had •witnessed them of the great development in late years of aviation. He hoped the visit' would give a stimulus to aviation in the province and help to develop the air sense that would bring home to those associated with the district the need for developing the aerodrome. Thanks were also expressed by the Mayor to Captain McGregor, who had kept the children interested during their wait for the others’ arrival. He wished the visitors a happy stay and trusted it would be the forerunner of many more visits. ASSISTANCE APPRECIATED. On behalf of the country people of North Taranaki Mr. J. S. Connett, (chairman of the Taranaki County Council) expressed appreciation of the friendly spirit shown by the visitors in coming to New Plymouth to give assistance.to the club, which had excited the admiration of all by its untiring efforts to provide an air port for the district and instil into the people an interest in aviation. The effort of the club could only succeed when it received support from the general public, and it was with this end in view that the pageant that day had been encouraged. The two instances that day, the flight of Mr. Spence to Wellington and back and the arrival of the planes from Auckland, would specially appeal to the business community, said Mr. J. McLeod, president of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, and showed how aeroplanes were going to be used for commercial services. The development of air travel was something to which most were novices, but the interest shown by the Auckland club would help to do what the New Plymouth chib wanted to see done as Boon as possible. The result of their action would be seen very shortly in the district, and he hoped even greater efforts would speedily be made. Addressing his remarks more particularly to the boys and girls, Mr. G. M. Spence, president of the New Plymouth Aero Club, expressed his pleasure at fleeing so many young folk present, because it was with them that a start would have to be made in training the future aviators. There was no reason, either, why the girls should not be as good pilots as their brothers. During his visit to Wellington on Friday, continued Mr. Spence, the Minister of Justice had expressed to him on behalf of the Government a deep sense of obligation to the owners of the property that the club was using. That sense of obligation was echoed tenfold by the club, which would never have existed if it had not been allowed .. the use of such a ground on such terms. . A tribute was due to the services of the energetic secretary of the club, Mr. Nielson, to whose organising ability the executive arrangements for the day and the use of the ground were due. Mr. Spence called attention to the Auckland Aero Club’s art union and asked for public support for it.. Auckland was not in such a good position as it would like to be, and he hoped appreciation of the visit would be expressed by liberal support. The public of Taranaki would only be helping themselves, because a promise had been made by the northern club that it would reciprocate any courtesy shown. Thanks for the welcome they had received were expressed by Major Cowper. The tour, he said, was to-stimulate in-

tercst in aviation, but little stimulus appeared to be necessary from what he had already seen. The best advise he thought he could give to any was to join the club. . Prior to the arrival of the visiting planes Capt'. McGregor made several passenger flights, keeping the children thrilled by one stunt which made not only taking-off and landing but even the most daringly executed movements seem like child’s play and an aeroplane in the air “as safe as a church.” Passenger flights were made by two of the other planes in the afternoon, when another exhibition of formation . flying was given. Though the spectators were fenced off from the landing ground for safety, special bays had been let in where during the luncheon hour the planes were placed to give the school children an opportunity of inspecting them at close range. Special arrangements had been made for the children, who availed themselves in numbers of the free admission to the aerodrome, the pupils of several schools assembling in force in charge of their teachers. STUNT FLYING YESTERDAY. . LARGE CROWD AT BELL BLOCK. After being comfortably housed in the hangar on Saturday night, the four planes again took the air yesterday. Whereas it was estimated there were at least’ 2600 people at the aerodrome bn Saturday, there were probably over 4000 there yesterday afternoon. Captain McGregor thrilled the crowd with exhibitions of “stunt” flying, including a “roll” out of the top of a loop. About 4.15 p.m. three of the machines flew in close formation over the aerodrome, Mr. Horton leading and Captains Bloomfield and McGregor taking the wing positions. The Mayor and Mayoress (Mr, and Mrs. H. V. S. Griffiths) were taken for a flight on Saturday, while Mr. J. W. Winfield, Mayor of Inglewood, went up yesterday. Traffic arrangements were admirably supervised by Chief Inspector Day, while the general organisation was in the hands of Mr, S. E. Nielson. In addition to tfae apologies for absence from the conference on Saturday published in another column, others were received from Mr, (J*. fiffd Dr. Buist, president, and Mr. J*. Lyons, of the Hawera Club.