THRILLS OF FLYING

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 46, 24 February 1930, Page 7

THRILLS OF FLYING

BLENHEIM PAGEANT

SPECTACULAR FEATS

(By Telegraph.)

(Special to "The Evening Post.")

BLENHEIM; This Day.

Ideal weather conditions prevailed on Saturday for the Marlborough Aero Club's air pageant, which attracted some twenty-five aeroplanes from all parts of the Dominion, including a

squadron of Bristol fighters ana Moths from Wigraiu, and the speedy Grebe. From an early hour Blenheim • was thronged with people from all parts of the province," and about midday cars by the hundred began to arrive from Nelson, whilo there was also a good representation from Wellington and Christchurch. The result was the assembly at Woodburnc Aerodrome of the biggest crowd in the history of tho town. No attempt has been made yet to compute the total, but it is free/y estimated that it will run to well over 10,000. The traffic .jam oir the roads leading to the aerodrome was very bad, mainly because of the inability of the gatekeepers to deal with the unprecedented rush of cars, but all the other arrangements worked almost perfectly, and the public were treated to what was easily the most remarkable and thrilling exposition of flying ever seen in the Dominion. A feature of the programme was itse well thought out spectacular events. These included an almost hair-raising exhibition of crazy flying by Captain 11. C. Macgregor, of Hamilton' Airways, who zoomed, looped, spun, and rolled in an ecstacy of enjoyment before treating the spectators to a demonstration of upside-down flying, and dizzy turns right over the heads of the crowd. MASTERLY DISPLAY. The Gloster Grebe, the fastest machine in the Dominion, was later put through her paces by Flight-Lieutenant M. W. Buckley, of Wigram, who also thrilled the onlookers with a masterly •display of aerobatics, concluding by opening his engine full out and skimming repeatedly right along the long line of spectators at a speed of well over 200 miles per hour. Another attractive feature O# the afternoon was a parachute ' descent from the D.H. 50 machine by "Colonel Sandbags." The inanimate hero made a perfect landing in the field adjoining the aerodrome, and the crowd were highly appreciative of the spectacle, i The bombing of a fast moving car by four planes also roused the crowd, par- j ticularly when the planes scored^ two clireet hits, fortunately without mishap to the occupants of the car. The officers of the New Zealand Air Force, with three Bristol fighters and three Moths, gave a wonderful exhibition of formation flying, the Bristols at 4000. feet, and the Moths a thousand feet lower. They wheeled and banked in their arrowhead formation, and changed at a signal to flying in line. AERIAL DOG-FIGHT. Flight Lieuts. Buckley and Burrell went up in Moths and staged an "aerial clog-fight" in a most realistic way, rolling and scrapping round one another until at last. Buckley got a theoretical bullet home and his opponent fell in a shuddering spin, apparently out of control. The crowd gasped with re-, lief when, a few feet off the ground, the machine was righted, making a perfect landing. It was very well done, and the. airmen were warmly congratulated on an excellent piece of spectacular work. NECK AND NECK FINISH. Thu most important race of the day was for the New Zealand Air Cup, a magnificent trophy valued at 70 guineas^ presented to the club by Mrs. Kenwick, in memory, of her husband, the late Mr. Thomas Rcnwiek. ■ The event was run in three heats over a .course of. about seven miles, and Captain Barrow, of Christchurch, won after a wonderful neck and neck finish. Captain Sfoeer, also of Christchureti, was second, and Captain White, of .Hawkes Bay, flying a Moth, was third. The Furness Kose Bowl, a .beautiful 25 guineas] trophy, went to Captain Macgregor, who also won a cup of similar value presented by the Marlborough Licensed Victuallers.. : Mr. F. C. Chichester, the hero of the England to Australia flight, was accorded a warm welcome from'the crowd when they recognised his famous machine. He competed in. a number of events, but his only success was a second in the slow race, which was w ( bn by his associate, Captain Bolt, of Wellington. Pilot F. E. Dix, of Blenheim, was third in this event. ''■ ■' WOMEN PILOTS. ■Miss Aroha Clifford ; wpn two handsome cups, one for the zero hour ■ competition, and the"other in the A. pilots' landing competition. In this last event Miss Bennett, of Blenheim, was second. Tlie girls both beat the dozen or ;so male competitors. Pilot D. G. Grigg, of Christchurch, was third in this contest. Miss Bennett also secured a third in the all transport race. ' A good deal of fun was imported in to the afternoon by the antics of a queer1 looking individual!, featured on the programme as "Count Rendered." Ho was scheduled to take off at 2.40 p.m..on a nonstop flight to-Guam in hfi; famous monoplane . "Nunsuch,"- the sight of which reduced the .crowd to hysterics. It was made up of all sorts' of aerodrome odds and ends, but marvel of marvels, it went after a fashion. The "count," with much aplomb, made his adieus to the crowd, climbed aboajrd, and opened up the engine; but- after running a hundred yards or so at quito a respectable speed the machine broke down. Thenceforward, whenever a dull moment appeared imminent, the nobleman and his, nondescript crew made further valiant efforts to get off to the accompaniment of detonating .fireworks in the innards of the machine. Finally towards the end of the afternoon slie went up in smoke.

. Altogether the day was a brilliant success upon which the club has been most heartily congratulated. The trophies were presented at a cabaret evening, at which an enjoyable time was spent. On Sunday those of the visitors who did jiot take advantage of the fine weather to leave for their homes, %yere taken on a launching expedition in the sounds.