FLIGHT OVER CHRISTCHURCH.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 November 1917, Page 4

FLIGHT OVER CHRISTCHURCH.

HOLIDAY CROWDS ENTERTAINED.

The carnival crowds at the races and Show Grounds, Christchurch, on Friday were entertained for a breathless half-liour by an excellent sustained Right by Mr C. M. Hill, the Aviation Company’s instructor. Rising from the Sockburn aerodrome at about half-past three, the aviator climbed to about a thousand feet in the new dual control instructional machine, which has just been constructed down to the last detail at the aerodrome. The northeasterly wind was blowing at thirty to thirty-five miles an hour, and the sixty horse-power engine*, which usually gives a speed of sixty miles an hour or more, had a strong call on its efficiency as the pilot held the big machine up into the wind. Only a few persons on the Show Grounds were expecting the flight, but there was a sudden suspension of all interest in things terrestrial when the little kitelike framework was discerned hanging apparently motionless in theblue south-western sky. The apparition grew, however, and the sun flashed on yellow wings and struts and wires as the biplane took more definite outline. The aviator was flying high, and the half-gale did not visibly affect his poise, although the bright sunny air must have held a good many airpockets and humps for the pilot.

Immediately over the grounds, at an altitude of 2,500 ft, or just half a mile, the machine banked steeply and turned with almost a spin. By this time the pulsations of the engine were distinct, although cut off momentarily as the wind lifted. The machine turned and banked at a seemingly sensational angle again, and the crowd shaded its eyes and rotated individually on its axis as the machine swept over the surrounding country. A few turns and Mr Hill headed once more into the wind, steering for the city, and climbing steadily’. Over Cathedral Square he was up 3,000 ft, and his arrival caused a mild sensation in the city. He cartwheeled and turned over the Square a few times, and then swung the machine back towards the south, with a rollicking bree/.e behind him.

To the expectant watchers at the Show Grounds and trotting track the return journey was sensationally brief The crowd was spellbound when the machine dropped into a nose dive, with a blue ribbon of smoke curving upwards astern like the tail of a comet. A sudden cartwheel, followed by a spiral volplane, with the engine cut out, set many people asking themselves whether a landing was intended, but 500 ft from earth the roar of tlie exhaust cut in on these speculations, and the propeller, up till now rotating visibly, dissolved into a sunny, Spinning halo. The aviator headed for home again, but took a couple of turns over the trotting track before heading the machine up for the three white hangars at Sockburn. To many country’ folk it was the first view of an aeroplane in flight, and the event was one that earned for the Aviation Company very general congratulation and thanks. The pupils at the aerodrome put their watches on the outward flight, Mr Hill agreeing to make a sharp bank and turn on finding himself directly’ over the Show Grounds. It was significant of the force of the wind that the outward trip took seven and a half minutes, although against this it must be reckoned that the -machine climbed 1,500 ft. The return trip on the down grade, with the wind astern, took just two minutes, and what hud seemed an eternity’ to the crowds was a short pleasure trip to the aviator, who made an easy’ landing at Sockburn, after what was probably the shortest trip to town on record. Even before the flight the Aviation tent at the Show Grounes was overtaxed, and during the afternoon one of the newly arrived 100 horse-power engines was uncrated in the tent, and formed an object of wondering interest. The company has lauded two of these engines, which are ten-cylin-der radial monsters, wonderfully compact, but eloquent of great power. A feature of the engine is the double magneto, mounted in a line with the axis. The company’ intends to keep the engine on the Show Grounds to-day, together with the model biplane.