NOTED AIRMAN

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17995, 14 April 1930, Page 4

NOTED AIRMAN

' LANDING AT TE AROHA. ENTERTAINED. BY OFFICIALS. TE AROHA, Sunday. The approach of darkness yesterday afternoon caused Mr F. C. Chichester to land on the Herriesville racecourse at Te Aroha at about five o’clock. Mr Chichester, with Mr 11. B- Maunsell, of Masterton, as a passenger, had set out in his Gipsy Moth aeroplane to fly from Auckland to Rotorua. The afternoon, however, was dull and cloudy, and visibility threatened to be very bad before Rotorua was reached. The Herriesville racecourse was chosen from the air as ‘being the most suitable place for a landing in Te Aroha. The aeroplane was circling over the course preparatory Lo landing, when the engine momentarily stalled. At the low speed the plane was travelling it began to lose alttitude rapidly, and Mr Chichester found himself below the levels of the summits of the trees that enclose parts of the course. The only gap in the belt at a practicable place was just too narrow for the machine. Mr Chichester immediately swung his aeroplane into a perfect vertical bank, and shot through with the wings of the machine at an angle of 45 degrees. He then righted the machine and m'ade a graceful landing. Mr Chichester and Mr Maunsell were later entertained by the Mayor of Te Aroha, Mr R. Coulter, and Dr. M. H. Dempster, president of the Te Aroha Aero Club.

The fliers left Te Aroha at 10 a.m. to-day for Masterton, where they expected to arrive in time for lunch. They were farewelled by members of the Te Aroha Aero Club. Mr Chichester was very much impressed with the racecourse as a landing ground. He said it was a logical and safe place for a descent.