NEW AIR TROPHY

Taranaki Daily News, 10 February 1934, Page 9

NEW AIR TROPHY

INVERCARGILL DONATION. DOMINION COMPETITION. A notable addition to the list of trophies available for competition between the pilots of the various New Zealand aero clubs is that which is at present being designed to the order of the Southland club. The first competition for the trophy will be held at Invercargill on Easter Saturday, March 31, when, it is expected, pilots from all parts of the Dominion will be participating. The trophy, which is at present being designed in England, and is valued at £lOO, has been donated to the Southland Aero Club by the Southland Amateur Sports Trust, for annual competition in Southland among all the A licensed pilots of the aero clubs. The cup will be held for one year by the club whose pilot wins it, and in addition, Southland Aero Club has decided to give a cash prize of £2O to first place, £lO to second, and £5 to third, but hi .the event of there being ho more than 10 entries there will be no third prize. The competition will consist of one or more map-reading point-to-point courses against a set ground speed over a closed circuit starting and finishing directly over the hangar, at the aerodrome. Points will be awarded for accuracy of ground speed as timed by the timekeeper, for accuracy of course-keeping both leaving and approaching the aerodrome and for airmanship, which includes the take-off and landing.

The course and ground speed required will be marked on a map in a sealed envelope, together with any other instructions required, and given to each competitor fifteen minutes before he enters his aeroplane prior to the start. . Each competitor; will be provided with a desk, a sheet of paper, a pencil, a ruler, a protractor, a pair of dividers, and will be allowed to make any marks on his map that he wishes. The maps will be studied afterwards by the judge with a view to dividing a tie between two or more competitors, points being subtracted for any superfluous or inaccurate markings. At the end of fifteen minutes the competitor will be ordered to enter his aeroplane, which must be provided with a watch. He will then be required to take off and climb to the height specified in his instructions. He will be given approximately five minutes to get into position to fly directly over the hangar on the first leg of the course. As he flies over the hangar a signal will be displayed to advise him that the timekeeper has started his watch, and on the final leg he will be required to fly directly at the aerodrome, and the timekeeper will stop his watch as the competitor passes over the hangar. A vertical sighting device will be employed to enable the timekeeper to judge when the competitor is over. the hangar. A reasonable amount of latitude sideways will be allowed, as the device will take the form of a line which can be swung at right angles to the competitor’s course; A member ‘of the New Zealand Permanent Air Force will act/is judge.