AIR PAGEANT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19758, 27 March 1934, Page 5

AIR PAGEANT

A BRILLIANT SUCCESS. By Telegraph—Press Association HASTINGS, March 25. Forty aeroplanes representing almost every club in New Zealand besides four Air Force and several privatelyowned machines, took part in the North Island air pageant at the Hastings aerodrome to-day. Prominent among the visitors were Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, the Director of Air Services, Squadron Leaders Stedman, M. McGregor, D. M. Allen, George Bolt, Isitt and Findlay. The gathering, which was a tremendous success, was notable for the fact that it was the first occasion on which an air pageant included a programme of night flying. The events in the evening were given in illuminated machines by Flight-Lieut. Gerrard, instructor to the local club, and Flying Officers Burrell, Buckley and Coull. These events were particularly spectacular, and interest was added by a night parachute descent by Scotty Fraser, whose performance was the first of its kind in New Zealand. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith made a number of flights at night as well as during the day.

The attendance figures are not yet available, but it is officially estimated that 3000 cars were parked in and about the grounds. The competitions resulted: — Boys’ Cup, landing—Buchanan (Wai-rarapa-Ruahine), Cadman (Auckland), Honeyfield (Manawatu). Stead Cup, bombing—McGaffin (Manawatu), Sexton (Auckland), Lynn (New Plymouth). Newbigin Cup. aerobatics —Sexton (Auckland), Brian Boys (Hawke's Bay), Buchanan 3. All transport race—Nancekivell (Westland), Linklater (Manawatu) 2, Buchanan 3. The results of the Cory Wright Navigation Cup are not yet available.