AVIATION MATTERS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 441, 5 December 1930, Page 8

AVIATION MATTERS

FEDERATED FLYING CLUB LAST NIGHT’S MEETING Matters dealing with aviation were discussed at a meeting of the Western Federated Flying Club held in Wanganui last evening. The president of the Federation, Air A. S. Burgess presided. There were delegates present from the Palmerston North Aero Club, Wanganui Club. Hawera Club, Feilding Club, and the New Plymouth Club. The Wanganui delegates were Messrs A. 8Burgess, C. P. Brown and Franklyn. Position in Palmerston Palmerston North advised that the matter of providing a public aerodrome had been taken up by Mi Isom Aerodrome Inc., which consisted of representative citizens and some members of the aero club- Au area of 50 acres on the outskirts of the city had been leas ed and was now’ being ploughed, levelled and resown. It should be ready in about two months. In the meantime hangar accommodation was being erected. The site was an admirable one, free from obstruction in all directions. It had been very favourably reported on by the Director of Air ServicesWhen the aerodrome was ready, the club would be able to make arrangements for the use of the ground and build no its organisation. In the meantime the club was only a nominal body with a negligible membership. It remained to be seen, when the aerodrome was available whether sufficient interest in club aviation would be forthcoming. Air C. J’. Brown (Wanganui) thought that the letter was a declaration of insolvency. It was quite plain that they could not pay their share of the 'plane-

Another delegate remarked that if the Federation made money the club would benefit. If the Federation lost, then the club would get off “scot free. ’ ’ Mr G. Al. Spence (New Plymouth) said that enthusiasm could hardly be expected until they had a ground. He moved that Palmerston North be requested to asknowledge their liability on the ’plane and agree to pay the amount with interest, when convenient, and that the position be reviewed in three months’ time.

The motion was carried. The New Zealand Aero Club advised that arrangements had been made whereby information with regard to weather in other centres could be obtained by telegraph, at the rate allowed mariners, Is reply paid. Mr Spence explained that the position was that the matter had been left with the New Zealand Club to apply for concession rates by telephone- He moved that the New Zealand Club should be urged to press for finality. The motion was carried. The chairman commented that they wanted the very best facilities they could get. How Many Pageants? 'The Marlborough Aero Club wrote stating that their 1931 pageant would be on February 21, and that the club hoped for the co-operation of the Federation. Air Spence said that the New Zealand body had decided that there should be one pageant in the South and one pageant in the North Island each yearDr. Buist (Hawera) said that the mntivrt th* rot that was setting in of ’planes going round the country to the different functions. Mr Spence said the aim was to keep the South Island ’planes in the South Island and the North Island ’planes in the North Island. The chairman thought that there should be two pageants in each island. Mr C. Frey berg (Hawera) suggested that there should be two classes of pageants. One would be official and the other of a friendly nature between the clubs themselves. Air Franklyn (Wanganui) spoke in favour of there being the two classes of pageants. Air Spence thought that there should be two first class pageants in each island and that it be left to the clubs to arrange any others. The chairman moved that it should be a recommendation to the New Zealand Federation that there be two official pageants in each of the North and the South islands per year, and that secondary pageants bo arranged by the various clubs themselves. The motion was carried-

After some discussion it was decided that the matter of insurance for the pilot instructors should he brought before Ihe New Zealand body. Feilding Club The Feilding Club advised that the club ground had been licensed as a commercial training aerodrome for use by all types of aircraft. The contractor was working on the hangar but had been hampered by bad weather. The president reported that he had sent Captain Gibbons down to Wellington to take delivery of the Government ’plane and that ’plane was now at Feilding. It was decided that the delegates to the annual conference of the New Zealand body should be the president and Dr- Buist, of Hawera. The pilot instructor submitted a list of tools that should be had by every club and Air Burgess informed the meeting that tenders wore now’ being called for a hangar to accommodate two ’planes with wings spread, and the building would be a substantial one- T t was hoped that in a very short time the club would be in a good financial position and the idea was that ultimately that hangar would be turned into the Federation Depot for spares and a workshop. Another ’Plane Wanted 'Tin' president askcii ir there was another ’plane due to the Federation from the Government, and was answered in the affirmative. Mr Spence said that the 'plane was due to them as soon as they could employ it. The chairman suggested that they should ’go ahead and get it. Mr Spence moved that in view of the fact that three aerodromes had been approved and that two more were shortly to be made available, application be made for the other 'plane. The motion was carried.

The meeting closed with the decision that the three ’planes of the Federation should meet Oscar Garden south of Palmerston North and accompany him right through the Federation territory as he flies northward. There will thus be five ’planes together.