DISPLAY IN AIR

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21259, 1 November 1940, Page 8

DISPLAY IN AIR

TRAINEES AT WIGRAM VICE-REGAL SPECTATORS DIVE-BOMBING SHOWN (By Telegraph.—Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, Friday A short but impressive ceremony was staged at the Air Force Station at Wigram today on the occasion of the last official visit of the GovernorGeneral, Viscount Galway, and Lady Galway, to the station. The ceremony took the form of a march past by 1000 airmen of the station, followed by a fly past of aircraft and a demonstration of phases of the training that is carried out at flying training schools beyond the elementary stages. Air to air firing training, which is naturally a very important consideration in the training of operational pilots, was demonstrated .by aircraft attacking the aerodrome. Dive-bomb-ing as practised by pilots who will join operational squadrons provided effective display at a low level, the attacks being made by Airspeed Oxfords. Aerobatics Appreciated As all pilots must be trained to have a full knowledge of their aircraft and their behaviour in the air, there is no better method of ensuring this than by teaching a pupil aerobatics. In today’s display aerobatics were limited, but they were greatly appreciated by the visitors. Instrument flying by two aircraft also provided an interesting demonstration. The final event of the display was an exhibition of synchronised aerobatics, which required considerable judgment and anticipation by the pilots of the two aircraft carrying out the manoeuvres, as well as a high degree of skill in the forming of the actual evolutions. While the main items of the display were in progress, formations of Oxfords and Fairev Gordon aircraft flew overhead and displayed most effectively the pitch of training to which pilots can be brought in a comparatively short space of time.