SOUTH ISLAND AIR PAGEANT

Taranaki Daily News, 1 May 1933, Page 6

SOUTH ISLAND AIR PAGEANT

SPECTACULAR FLYING SEEN. SUCCESS OF TARANAKI MAN. By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. One of the most successful and spectacular aviation displays ever held in the Dominion was the official South Island pageant of the New Zealand Aero Club organised by the Canterbury Club and held at the Wigram aerodrome on Saturday. Competitions usually of little interest to the public were dismissed in the morning, the afternoon being reserved pureJy for the entertainment of a crowd of 5000 on the aerodrome, and nearly as many outside the ground appreciated this change in the organisation. About 30 aeroplanes, including a number from the Air Force, took part in the flying. Practically all the clubs in the Dominion were represented. Spectacular displays of flying were given by Flying-Officers M. Allan (Auckland), Olson (Otago), Gerrand (Hawke’s Bay) and Smith (Southland). Air Force officers gave a demonstration of formation flying which was remarkable for its precision. Scotty Fraser made his 185th parachute jump. Various minor novelties in the programme were much appreciated by the crowd. The success of the pageant was largely due to the excellent organisation of Mr. •Mercer (Canterbury instructor) and the helpful co-operation of the Air Force The results of. the landing competition for club-trained pilots are: E. Meredith (Western Federated) 1, A. E. Willis (Marlborough) 2. Landing competition for commercial licensed pilots: I. Keith (Western Federated), 1, J. Smith (Southland) 2.