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Glider Flight From Nelson To Chertsey

As darkness was falling last evening Mr Keith Wakeman, an aerial topdressing pilot, of Christchurch, brought a Skylark II sailplane down in a large grass paddock on the farm of Mr W. Rawcliffe about five miles north of Ashburton airport. It was the end of a flight which began nearly eight hours earlier at Nelson airport. Over the Inland Kaikouras the glider rose to a height of about 24,500 feet in a standing wave formation, and .Mr Wakeman could have gone higher but for frosting on the inside of the canopy, which reduced his visibility and forced him to descend. In reaching this altitude he recorded a gain in height of about 19,000 feet, easily qualifying for the altitude section of the International Diamond C award, which requires a gain of more than 16,000 feet from point of release.

On the flight Mr Wakeman may also have qualified for the International Gold C award which requires a flight of more than 186 miles and a gain in altitude in excess of 10,000 feet. He said last evening that he would be close to the distance requirement. Should he satisfy both these requirements he may become the second glider pilot to win the award in New Zealand. Earlier this year another member of the Canterbury Gliding Club, Mr S. H. Georgeson, completed requirements for the Gold C. Over Blenheim

Mr Wakeman was towed off the Nelson airport shortly after 10 a.m. by a Marlborough Aero Club Tiger Moth. He planned to release from tow about Lake Rotoiti but rain. in that locality caused the tow plane to turn back. A break in the weather, however, allowed Mr Wakeman to break loose at 4500 feet over the Wairau valley about 20 miles from Nelson about 11 a.m. He subsequently spent about three hours in the Blenheim area gaining height and it was not until about 2 p.m., when he was at about 10,000 feet, that he set course for the south. Before flying south the pilots cast a glance northwards. It would have been an easy matter to fly across Cook Strait, he said. There were lenticular clouds stretching right across the Strait. But “I have work to do,” he said, explaining why he had not taken advantage of the conditions. Over the Ure river valley the glider climbed to 18.000 feet in a standing wave and then in another standing wave over the Inland Kaikouras he was carried up to 24,500 feet before the freezing of his breath on the inside

of the canopy restricted visibility and forced him down again. About 5 p.m. he was over Harewood at 9000 feet. At this stage he decided to fly further in an effort to reach the Gold C. distance. He dropped to about 6000 feet before obtaining a lift to about 10,000 feet over Burnham and then as darkness began to fall he dropped into a paddock between Chertsey and Ashburton just short of the Ashburton airport. Mr Wakeman said he believed that the paddock was an old emergency airfield. Westerly conditions were encountered by Mr . Wakeman throughout the flight, and for about four or five hours he was at altitudes which made it necessary for him to use oxygen. Last Friday Mr Wakeman flew in the Skylark II from Harewood to Omaka, near Blenheim. On Saturday he took the glider on to Nelson, and on Monday he planned to return to Harewood, but after about three hours in the air unfavourable conditions forced him to return to Nelson.

CAUSEWAY AT MT. PLEASANT City Council Seeks

Control

Control of the whole width of the Mount Pleasant-Redcliffs causeway is to be sought by the City Council. The north side of the causeway was originally constructed by the Christchurch Tramway Board for a single-track tramline. The main road was built many years later as a relief work, and paid for by the various local authorities. Technically, the original section may still belong to the Transport Board, although presumably of no use to it. The council last evening decided that it should have control of the whole width of the causeway. The Municipal Electricity Department wished to reconstruct its power line, and it should preferably be moved as far to the north side as possible.

At some future date the widening of the road would be necessary, the council agreed, and the poles should be kept clear. Any widening would necessitate rebuilding the three tramway bridges.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19570430.2.127

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28264, 30 April 1957, Page 14

Word count
Tapeke kupu
747

Glider Flight From Nelson To Chertsey Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28264, 30 April 1957, Page 14

Glider Flight From Nelson To Chertsey Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28264, 30 April 1957, Page 14

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