Up In The Air

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 73, 29 April 1929, Page 8

Up In The Air

SATURDAY'S PAGEANT Some Thrilling Aerial Exhibitions. BLUE SKIES AT LONGLANDS HAWKE'S BAY WINS BLUE RIBBON. The belt of fog that hung over Hastings on Saturday morning caused some trepidation amongst aviation enthusiasts, it being feared that if the conditions continued, the Hawke's Bay Aero Club's first aerial pageant would have to be postponed. As the day advanced, however, the mist lifted and the gathering in the afternoon was favoured with blue skies. All roads led to the club's aerodrome at Longlands and enthusiasts were present from all parts of the district, Napier being particularly well represented. During the whole of the afternoon a double ring of cars encircled the ground, and the attendance was far larger than was anticipated. At first there were only seven 'planes in action but later in the afternoon the number was increased to nine. At about 3.30, two 'planes were observed in the distance and on landing they proved to be the two missing Auckland 'planes, piloted by Major Caldwell and Captain Bloomfield. Both machines left New Plymouth this morning but were delayed by rain and heavy weather. A large crowd assembled round the club's flagstaff, in the centre of the ground, at the opening of the pageant. MAYOR OF HASTlNGS. Mr G. A. Maddison, Mayor of Hastings, was the first speaker, and after apologising for the absence of the club's president, Sir Andrew Russell, who was unavoidably detained elsewhere, went on to refer to the rapid progress which had been made by aviation in the Dominion in general and Hawke's Bay in particular. The Hawke's Bay Aero Club formed a link in the chain of Imperial air services, and he felt that the time must come when every centre would have to have its air port for the accommodation of air transport traffic. It was, he thought, most necessary to establish an air harbour in Hawke's Bay, as the salt-water factions could not agree on either an inner or outer harbour. (Laughter.) AIR TRAVEL. In welcoming the distinguished visitors. Mr Maddison stated that it was quite apparent from his mode of travelling that the Minister of Defence was an advocate of air travel, preferring travelling by air to the dusty Government railway carriages. He felt sure there had never been a Defence Minister more determined to foster aviation in the Dominion than the Hon. Mr Milford. (Cheers.) OFFlCIALLY OPENED. Mr Maddison then officially opened the Hawke's Bay Aero Club and unveiled a special tablet in commemoration of this event in the centre of the ground. HON. T. M. WILFORD. The next speaker, the Hon. T. M. Wilford, was brief and to the point. "I must thank the Mayor for all the very nice things he has said about me and I can assure everyone that I intend to foster the development of aviation for the defence of the country and also the civil side. I am confident that we have some of the best flying men in the world in New Zealand," he remarked. The club's flag. in which the R.A.F. colours, of dark hlue, pale blue and red are combined, with the club initials, was then unfurled by Mr H. M. Campbell, M.P. RT, HON. J. C. COATES. The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, P.C., M.P., the club's patron, who had come from Wellington to be present, congratulated the club on its 'progress and gave a welcome to all visiting pilots. He also expressed thanks to the Minister for the interest he was taking in the fostering of aviation. "I trust that the club's machine will be used to teach many young men and women to fly, for as sure as we are sitting here, that is the future metliod of development, remarked Mr Coates in conclusion, declaring the pageant open and calling upon Lady Russell to christen the club's 'plane, which had been named "Heretaunga." This was done by the breaking of a bottle of champagne on the propeller, amidst deafening cheers. All spectators then adjourned to the sides of the ground and a start was made with the events. The results were as follow : —

ALL TRANSPORT RACE. Captain J. L. Findlay, Defence Department, D.H. Moth 1 Captain B. Mercer, Canterbury Aero Club, D.H. Moth 2 Captain T. W. White, Hawke's Bay Aero Club, D.H. Moth 3 Time, 4mins. 25secs. A combination of thrills was provided in this race, in which competitors had to run 100 yards, ride a bicycle for the next 100 yards, complete the distance to their 'planes by car, fly round the course and land, carry on by car for 100 yards, transfer to their push bikes for a further 100 yards and then run to the finishing post. The race was run in two sections, Captain Findlay putting in the best time. Captain Mercer was 10 seconds behind him. As an interlude. Captain Burrell, of the Defence Department, and Captain Mercer, of the Canterbury Aero Club, took up two Moths, Captain Burrell's machine attracting particular notice, with the red, white and blue circles that stamp the military 'plane. Both aviators then thrilled the crowd with an exhibition of aerobatics, including looping the loop, spinning nose dive, the falling leaf and just about every stunt in the aviator's curriculum. The exhibition was a wonderful one, but many in the crowd breathed a sigh of relief when it was finished and the two participants had made a successful landing. LANDING COMPETITION. Captain N. E. Chandler, Marlborough Aero Club, D.H. Moth 1 Captain J. L. Findlay, Defence Department, Bristol Fighter ... 2 Captain B. Mercer, Canterbury Aero Club, D.H. Moth 3 This competition, for the cup presented bv Mrs W. G. Stead, was preceded by a novelty procession, all machines taking part taxi-ing round the ground and then flying past in a wide

sweep, headed by Captain White, at the controls of the Hawke's Bay Club's Moth. Considerable interest was centred in this event, as it was the first in which the stocky, ugly-looking Bristol Fighter took the air. Her exhausts roared like machine-guns as she left the ground, passing over the hangar at about 80 miles an hour, the whine of the wind she created mingling with the roar of her engine. All machines finished in a line, in front of the hangar. SLOW RACE. i Captain K. Hall, Hororata, private owner, Avro Avian ... 1 Mr J. Smith, Air Survey and Transport Co., D.H. Moth ... 2 Captain. J. L. Findlay, Defence Department, D.H. Moth ... 3 In this race, the minimum height after the take off was 500 feet, with a maximum of 800. All 'planes had to keep strictly to the true course and the six competitors presented a great sight as they flew into the path of the sun, gleaming silver and with their tails well down. At first it seemed as if Captain Findlay would be the winner, but Captain Hall was actually the last to land. BOMBING COMPETITIONS. Captain T. W. White, Hawke's Bay Aero Club, D.H. Moth ... 1 Captain W. E. Chandler, Marlborough Aero Club. D.TI. Moth ... 2 Mr J. Smith, Air Survey and Transport Co., D.H. Moth ... 3 In this event the competitors were armed with bags of flour. The object was to hit a car which kept moving round the centre of the field. No direct hit was scored, the nearest being two yards away. N.Z. AERO BLUE RIBBON. Captain T. W. White, Hawke's Bay Aero Club, D.H. Moth ... 1 Major K. Caldwell, Auckland Aero Club, D.H. Moth ... 2 Mr J. Smith, Air Survey and Transport Co., D.H. Moth ... 3 The course in this race for the cup presented by Mr D. Newbigin was considerably cut down, consisting of not much more than two wide laps of the course. Captain White, whose machine was one of the first two away, led comfortably throughout and won from Major Caldwell, winner of the Auckland Aerial Derby. This competitor did well in getting second place on account of the big handicap. All seven pilots electrified the crowd in the second lap by swooping down towards the hangars at a speed of about 80 m.p.h. and when about 20 feet from the ground zooming up again at a terrific speed. At the conclusion of the race Mrs W. G. Stead tied the blue ribbon to the struts of the winning 'plane. The Hon. T. M. Wilford and the victorious pilot each made a brief speech and cheers for Captain White ended the gathering.