TWO-HOUR AEROPLANE FLIGHT

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 93, 14 January 1935, Page 10

TWO-HOUR AEROPLANE FLIGHT

Over Lakes and Mountains FIRST TIME ALOFT IN NEW ZEALAND By Telegraph.—Press Association. Invercargill, January 13. Making his first aeroplane flight in New Zealand, the Duke of Gloucester, in a Puss Moth service machine, piloted by Flight-Lieutenant M. W. Buckley, flew for two hours this morning over the lakes and mountains of the Southland province. The weather conditions were almost ideal for Hying, and hel i so until the return journey, when a strong westerly headwind was encountered. The Duke, who, like the pilot, did not wear a parachute, was delighted with the flight, particularly as it afforded him an opportunity to obtain a birds-eye view of some country .which lay in a concealed portion of his Southland trip. The route followed a rectangular course from the Southland Club’s aerodrome, across the mountain tops toward Lake Manapouri, and thence to Lake Te Anau, and over the beautiful Eglington Valley to Lake Wakatipu. Most of the mountain peaks were visible, and the Duke had an unrivalled view of the snow peaks of Mt. Aspiring, 9GOO feet high. An extensive cloud bank, hanging like'a pall, obscured the anticipated sight of the Sounds. The maximum height reached during the flight was a little over 9000 feet. Flight-Lieutenant Buckley made a perfect landing, but pulled up almost on top of a smouldering motor tire, which was used as a wind indicator. There was no risk of the plane catching fire, however, as it merely passed over the spot, which was a blind one to the pilot. Members of the Duke’s suite also spent the morning in flying in service machines. The Duke’s equerry, Captain D. Schreiber, with Captain J. W. Tweedie as a passenger, piloted the local Fox Moth.