THE AIR PAGEANT

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 72, 27 April 1929, Page 5

THE AIR PAGEANT

TEN PLANES PRESENT. BIG FUNCTION IN HASTINGS. This morning Hastings was well and truly enveloped in an exceptionally dense fog which obscured all vision beyond a distance of about 50 yards. Such conditions were not at all promising for the Hawke's Bay Aero Club's pageant, which was held at the Hastings Aerodrome to day, but as the morning wore on, the fog gradually lifted and was displaced by brilliant sunshine, which lifted a heavy load from the minds of the organisers of the pageant. The function commenced in the early afternoon, when the Hon. T. M. Milford, Minister of Defence, who flew from Dannevirke to Hastings this morning. the. Hon. J. G. Coates, patron of the club, and the Mayor, Mr G. A. Maddison, performed various functions, these being followed by the aerial events. It was originally anticipated that there would be at least nine visiting planes, and all of those who promised were present, with the exception of Captain Bolt and his Avro Avian. Messrs Mill, Auckland, and McGregor, Hamilton, arrived from Hawera this morning, the other planes arriving yesterday. These comprised the machines occupying Captain Mercer and Mr Climie, of the Canterbury Aero Club, Captain Chandler, of the Marlborough Aero Club, Captain Findlay and Captain Burrell of the New Zealand Permanent Air Force. and Captain K. Hall. of South Canterbury. Lieutenant Smitb, of Auckland, arrived in Hastings on Wednesday. With the fine weather which ruled, the pageant created exceptional interest in Hastings, and it was not surprising to find such a great crowd of people making their way to the 'drome directly after lunch. The people, who were unable to be present, were given an exhibition of formation flying over the town, but those who were present enjoyed a unique thrilling and interesting afternoon.