REFRESHER COURSE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17990, 6 February 1924, Page 8

REFRESHER COURSE.

ACCTOENT TO CAPTAIN MCGREGOR.

Lowering clouds and drizzling rain precluded a great deal of flying yesterday morning, although there was a fair amount of routine work in the evening. A good percentage* of thg pilots have passed on from the primary work on Avros to flying the Bristol fighter, and it is to be. regretted- that; there are not more service machine's available. The detachment has yet to go through its musketry course at Redcliffs. It is not likely that these officers will receive' any actual machine, gun work, but a camera-gun will be fitted to cue of the machines. This device is really better than an actual gun, for it records on a film what would have boon the result of a pilot 'a shooting. , Yesterday morning Earl Cassillis visited the aerodrome, and made a complete inspection under the guidance of Captain Isitt. He was introduced to the pilots on the course, but unfortunately, owing to the weather conditions, was not able to see any flying. Glider and Pilot Fall On Monday afternoon, Captain M. 0. McGregor, M.C., DJT.C, who has already shown himself a most efficient and capable pilot by his clean handling and stunting of tho Bristol fighter over Christchurch, met with a painful accident. The mishap is all the more unfortunate because it did not happen in one of the proved aeroplanes, but ia a glider,. craft which are yet very much in the experimental stage. The glider is not c'ngined, and flying speed is obtained by mean 3 of a motor-car and strong india-rubber cordage, in default of a hill. By some means the releases of the coAl failed to act, and the glider fell to the ground, only from a height of about six f eo't. To the surprise of the onlookers, for the fall appeared harmless enough, the pilot was found to bo injured, and he was immediately sent to hospital. Medical examination revealed a fractured jaw, but enquiries yesterday were to tho effect that Captain McGregor was progressing very favourably, and his injuries were not at all serious. The whole * episode was most unfortunate, and in no way reflects any discredit on standard-built aeroplanes.