FIRST LYALL BAY LANDING

Evening Star, Issue 20133, 25 March 1929, Page 5

FIRST LYALL BAY LANDING

AIR SENSE GROWING [Special to the * Stab.’] WELLINGTON, March 25. The first-' to nso Wellington’s partlycompleted airport at Lyali Bay was the. Marlborough Aero Club’s Moth plane which lauded at 11 yesterday morning. The machine was piloted by Captain N. E. Chandler, the club’s instructor, and he had with him us passenger Mr L Wemsley. a dub member who had urgent private business in Wellington. Flying conditions were ideal, and the flight from Blenheim took fifty minutes.

A crowd quickly gathered round the plane, and Considerable difficulty was met with in keeping back dozens of children, and even some adults, who appeared anxious to touch the joy stick, examine the controls, and lean against the delicate, fabric of the wings. However, the machine was safely roped off, and tho pilot breathed freely once more.

Captain Chandler said that in addition to having brought one of the Marlborough Aero Club members over with him he was taking back to Blenheim Hi J. H. Preston, the ground engineer to the Aero Club, who had been visiting Wellington. Captain Chandler staled that he was perfectly certain that New Zealand was rapidly becoming possessed of an air sense, and that once the people of the dominion became convinced of the absolute safety of flying under present-day conditions a great impetus would bo given (o a new industry in tins country, which would give material and valuable assistance to the business community, and employment to some thousands of people.