FLYING IN HASTINGS

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 284, 4 January 1930, Page 8

FLYING IN HASTINGS

HAWKE'S BAY AERO CLUB'S PROGRESS. THE SPARTAN STILL ON THE SHELF. The Hawke's Bay Aero Club's Moth 'plane, although for the past few days it has been undergoing overhaul, has been working overtime of late with passenger and tuition flights, and Captain T. W. White, the club's instructor, with his assistant, has been kept busy handling the work that has come his way. Flying has now definitely taken a hold in Hastings and the future of the Hawke's Bay Aero Club is well assured. The Simmonds Spartan 'plane, which crashed some weeks ago, is still on the shelf, waiting for certain structural and engine repairs which cannot be carried out until the necessary material arrives from Australia. It was unfortunate for the club that certain parts consigned to Hastings for the repair of the 'plane went down to the bottorn of the sea in the wrecked 'Manuka'. Nevertheless it is anticipated that before very long the Spartan will be in the air again, and it hoped that by the end of this month the club will be in possession of the first of the Moth' 'planes that are being loaned by the Government. With three 'planes for instructional work, the club's two instructors will be better able to cover their territory. Captain White has been visiting Dannevirke and Gisborne instructing would-be aviators in those two centres, and there is every possibility of Napier's landing ground being approved for a temporary license in the immediate future. so that all available 'planes will be well in demand.