AEROPLANE VISITS

Hokitika Guardian, 6 April 1927, Page 3

AEROPLANE VISITS

OVER HOKITIKA AND OIiKV. COAST NONE THE WISER. WELLINGTON, April I. Aeroplanes usually announce I heir presence, hut, according to a statement made to-day by the Minister of Defence (the Hon IE ,J. Kolleston), on four or live occasions in .March machines passed over Gruynioutli and Hokitika without the townspeople being any the wiser. In view of the arrival at the Wigrain 'Aerodrome of the Dominion’s new aeroplane, the Minister was asked whether he could supply any information regarding the refresher courses held recently sit the aerodrome*.

Air Kolleston replied that advantage was taken of the courses to secure data as to air currents, etc., on behalf of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research for meteorological purposes, and in that connection the .Minister said that the pilots were told to rise to 3000 ft and fly at that level for fifteen minutes, and to 600011 and to remain at that level lor iiltceu minutes, and similarly at 1)1)11011 and 12.000 ft. and, if the pilot so desired, he could rise to lo,oooft. Hying thus in a succession of steps.

Many of the machines went in the direction of the Southern Alps, and on at least four or five occasions during March machines actually crossed the Alps and went as far as (treymouth and Hokitika, passing directly over those towns at heights of from IO.OOUIt to 15,000 ft, apparently without the townspeople being aware of the presence of the machines overhead. One machine actually flew from the AYigruin Aerodrome as far as Gro\mouth and was back at the aerodrome in well under two hours.