AERO CLUB

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 August 1939, Page 9

AERO CLUB

MEETING OF COMMITTEE. IMPROVEMENTS AT AERODROME. At the monthly meeting of the committee of the Wairarapa and Ruahine Aero Club (Inc.) held at the Clubhouse, Hood Aerodrome, on Tuesday evening, Mr. E. A. Heyder (vice-presi-dent) presided in the absence of the president (Mr. A. McDonald). A welcome was extended to Mr. W. Kemp, who attended the meeting as the official representative of the Masterton Borough Council. Mr. Heyder referred to the financial support, and assistance given by the Borough Council in the past which had helped the club to maintain an airport in the Wairarapa. A motion of sympathy was passed to the parents of Mr. H. S. Nilsson, of Woodville, who was a member of the club at the time he met with a fatal motor 'cycle accident. Due to a number of factors, the flying report for July showed a considerable decline in flying time, which amounted to 11 hours 25 minutes only, including four cross-country flights to Palmerston North and Dannevirke. With better weather conditions and the commencement of Civil Reserve training, the figures for August should show considerable improvement. Advice has been received by the Air Department that Messrs S. I. Baird, R. B. Berney and R. V. Le Pine had been approved for enrolment in the Civil Reserve of Pilots. The age limit for joining has been increased to 28 years so that those who were previously debarred by age can now apply for enrolment. A large number of inquiries had been received from Dannevirke and it is anticipated that a number from that centre will be enrolled. Arrangements are being macle for an aerial transparency photograph of Dannevirke to be taken from one of the club aircraft as soon as the weather conditions are favourable. The Public Works Department will commence shortly on the removal of stones from the aerodrome surface. During the autumn the main paddock was ploughed, levelled and grass seed sown. It is now necessary to complete the work by shifting a number of stones, levelling where necessary and rolling. With a good spring growth ol grass it will not be long before ' the main aerodrome landing area is in use again.