AIR PAGEANT.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18541, 11 April 1930, Page 11

AIR PAGEANT.

THRILLS AT HAWERA. Bf Telegraph—Preaa Association. HAWERA, April 10. Taranaki’s fir&t air pageant at Egmont racecourse this afternoon drew an assembly of between 600 and 700 to the grounds, while further larger numbers viewed the events _ frcmi various points of vantage in the vicinity. , Ten ’planes were in attendance, representing Canterbury, Marlborough, Wellington, New Plymouth, Hamilton and Auckland. Fine weather favoured the opening of the programme at two o'clock, but light rain showers . were experienced from three o’clock onwards, while a stiff northerly breeze rising in occasional gusts presented difficulties to the pilots. Commencing with a massed parade, the programme included an Egmont Air Cup race, formation flying, bombing. and parachute descending by “Colonel Sandbags.” Captain M. C. McGregor (Hamilton) provided a succession of thrills with aerial acrobats and upside down flying. He appeared also with Flight-Lieut. M. W. Buckley (Christchurch) in an aerial dog-fight. . . . .. Other pilots appearing during the programme were Miss Aroha Clifford (Christchurch), Captain Willingford (Auckland), Flying-Officer Keith (New Plymouth), Miss P. Bennett, Mr F. R. |)ix (Blenheim), Captain J. Mercer (Christchurch), Captain G. Stedman (Wellington), and Pilot Officer J. Buckeridge (Christchurch). Flight-Lieut. H. B. Burrell (New Zealand Air Force) officiated as judge, and did not fly his moth, which was piloted by J. Buckeridge, who also flew an A.D.H. 50. The other ’planes, excepting Miss Clifford’s Avro Avian, were gypsy moths. Competitive events resulted:— Landing—Captain MacGregor 1, Flight-Lieut. Buckley 2. Five competed. Balloon bursting Flying-Officer Keith 1. Five competed. Bombing—Pilot-Officer Buckeridge 1, Captain Mercer 2. Four competed. Egmont Air Cup, 6 miles —First heat: Captain MacGregor 1, Captain Mercer 2. Second heat: Captain Stedman 1, F. R. Dix 2. Third heat: Flight-Lieut. Buckley )$ Captain Willingford 2. Final: MacGregor 1, Buckley 2, Stedman 3. Flying low, the trio provided a thrilling finish, the winner moving up in the final thirty yards to take the decision by a nose, with the third ’plane alone 15 yards back.