WAIRARAPA AERO CLUB

Wairarapa Daily Times, 11 May 1932, Page 6

WAIRARAPA AERO CLUB

ZK—ABE’S FLYING BE COED. A very line working performance stands to the credit of the WairarapaAero Club’s ’plane, ZK—ABE, popularly known as “Abe,” which recently completed one thousand flying hours in other words, air journeys totalling over eighty thousand miles. Though “Abe’s” career in the servico of tlio Wairarapa Aero Club is comparatively brief, extending over little more than two years, it certainly has been very noteworthy and bears witness alike to the quality of the ’plane and to the skill with which it has been handled in the air and maintained and cared for on the ground. A DJI. 60 G Metal Moth (No. 1445), the ’plane was tested in Auckland on 16th April, 1980, and purchased by the Wairarapa Aero Club on that date. On 17th April last, it had completed two years’ service. On its initial trip from Auckland to the Wairarapa it was piloted by Captain W. F. Park, with Mill. A. E. Dunderdalo (secretary) as a passenger. In its first year of service with the club, the ’plane was in the air for 575 hours, and in the second year for over 425 hours. Over thirty pilots and trainees of the club did tlieir first solo flight in “Abe.” Apart from the many journeys of ■which brief particulars are given below, the ’plane has been engaged on a number of occasions in noteworthy special service. It was used for about a fortnight in giving free service to the 'Government and to residents of Hastings and Napier, following on the earthquake disaster Last ? year. In February last, “ Abe ” rendered important service in carrying mails from Oamaru to Christchurch on an occasion when a railway wash-out had been caused by floods. “Abe’s” only mishap occurred when a landing was being made in the sand of the Wanganui airport. The ’plane turned on its back in the soft sand, but was not seriously damaged. At that stage it had a flying record of 470 hours. Apart from! an immense amount of' local service in instructional and other flying, “Abe” has made the number of journeys indicated to and from the following places: —Wellington, 35; Dannevirke, 30; Hastings, 15; Blenheim, 11; Gisborne, 9; Wanganui, 8; Palmerston North, 8; Auckland, 4; New Plymouth, 16; Hawera, 5 Christchurch, 5; Pahiatua., 4; Napier, 3; Nelson, 1; Eotorua, 1; Eaglan, 1; Timaru, 2; Dunedin, 2; Invercargill, 1. Other ’planes flying in the service of the club have done between them some 300 to 400 flying hours.