AIR CLUB TROPHIES

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 74, 29 March 1933, Page 8

AIR CLUB TROPHIES

A HIGH STANDARD .'

COVETED CUP WON

SATURDAY'S DISPLAY

On the illustrations page of -this issue appears a photograph of cups and trophies won during the last twelve months or so by members of the 'Wellington Aero Club, a handsome array, and a convincing proof of the claim made that AVellington amateur pilots have worked up to a very high standard of performance. Some of the trophies are for. competition among "Wellington club members only; but those most sought after are interclub trophies, for which competition is particularly keen. In addition to the leups shown in the photograph, the Wellington. Aero Club now holds the "New Zealand Herald" aviation trophy, which was secured in competition against pilots from all New Zealand "clubs at the official aero club pageant at Auckland last week, by Pilot Officer M. K. Archibald. This trophy is awarded for points secured in navigation aud general air pilotage and reliability, and thus the competing pilot must have a wide knowledge of theory as well as of work in the air. The award carries with it a grant of £50 to the club whoso representative secures highest points. ' The trophy was originally offered as the first award for a 25-mile air race, but it was felt that more benefit would accrue were the conditions of the competition altered to embrace the necessity of a much wider knowledge of aviation by competitors. Pilot Officer Archibald also secured second place in aerobatics at the pageant, and Mr. K. G. Smith, the club's other representative, secured second place in the landing competition. The Stellin Cup, which is at present held by Club Captain C. C. Waite, is another trophy in keen demand, awarded for open aerobatics. Mr. Waite will givela display at the aerodrome on Sat; urday afternoon, in company with other trophy-holders who are in Wellington that afternoon. The Contact Cup (Meatchem Cup) and the Lloyd Cup are both for landing points, and both are held by Pilot Officer Archibald; he also holds the 1932 North Island Aerial Pageant trophy for aerobatics, grade A, the "Wings" trophy (the Moth model) for aerobatics at the Dannevirke pageant, and the D..A. Ewen trophy for the best-trained club pilot during 1931; the award for this year will be made in June. The Formation Cup is. awarded for team work, the holders at .present being STessrs.' C. M. Duthie," S. Mcatchem, and F. Adams. ' ( ■ ■ ■ ' . At the righthand lower corner of the illustration is the Southern Cross Cup, presented by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith for award, to the "Evening Post" Aviation .Scholarship finalist, of either first or second section, who in the opinion of the Director of Air Services makes the best showing in the final examination, for the. granting of the A grade pilot's licence. SCHOLARSHIP CONDITIONS.- . The winner of the first section of the scholarship, Mr. G. P. Caeheniaille, has commenced his icourse of training for the full pilot's licence, but the second section is still going strong, and therefore the award of the SouthernCross Cup cannot be made for some time yet. ' -."' ' The competition Will close „shortly, but facilities will'be given to intending entrants to obtain detailed information, application forms, etc., at the aerodrome on Saturday during the afternoon display. Forms can also be obtained at the office of the Aero Club, Dominion Farmers' Building, on application in person or by , letter, or to Squadron-Leader Stedman, at the aerodrome. The 'competition is, open to anyone of British nationality over the age of 17 years, a condition being made that -entrants must not have had preVious tuition. The entrance fee, of 20s, entitles entrants to preliminary ground instruction and twenty minutes in the air, during the latter part of which the machine is given„ over'• to their, control, backed by the instructor, of course. ; The six who make the best hand at controlling the machine are to be given further test flights and from the markings obtained in these flights (with a possible of 1000) the winner is selected, and will be given free tuition up to A grade pilot requirements. Applicants are asked to^ state the day and hour at which they wish to make their" preliminary flights, in order that S.quadron-Leader G. L. Stedman may best arrange the- days' programmes. Applicants under "21 years of age must obtain > the consent of parents or guardians to their participation in the competition.