AERIAL HONEYMOON

Hokitika Guardian, 13 December 1928, Page 2

AERIAL HONEYMOON

CAPTAIN BI'CKLEY TO TOUR. DOAUN'IUIN. ' \ . BLENHELM, December .10. In ;i few years’ time judging by the increasin'; popularity of. aviation in tlie Dominion, aerial honeymoons will he a romonplaco, but the honour of participating in the first one "ill belong to Cajitain At. Buckley. ol the New Zealand Air Force, who is to l>e married at Palmerston North on Wednesday next, and who will fly off with his bride on a brief tour of the-Domin-ion.

On his way north lor the wedding Captain Buckley arrived at Blenhiem at 13.30 p.in. to-day from Christchurch, and by arrangement with the .Marlborough Aero Club, whose aerdrome is under crop, landed at \\ oodbourue, in the famous field with the Southern Cross used for her take-off tor Australia The well-known airman, who was accompanied as passenger by his brother, .Mr J. Luck ley, of Fail-lie, was welcomed on arrival by representatives of the Aero Culb and by Messrs George and Louis Fairhall, the owners of the M oodbourue estate. Captain Buckley is living an Avro-Avian light aeroplane, which has been generously lent to him for the honeymoon by Captain Ken Hall, of Hororata." It will be remembered tthat in July last, Captain Hall visited Blenheim in a A loth ’plane, which he had just imported from Englend, and played an important part in the establishment of the Marlborough Aero Club. A few days later the machine "'as wrecked in attempting to land in a bad paddock in Canterbury, but Captain Hall at once placed an order for a new machine, this time an Avian. It was assembled in Christchurch only a fortnight ago. hut Captain Hall insisted on Captain Buckley using it for his honeymoon. It is of special interest to students of aviation, because it is the first machine in the Dominion to bo fitted with the famous “slotted wings.” which reduce the risk of accidents through stalling to a minimum.

Captain Buckley left at 3.40 this afternoon for Palmerston North, and will land on the ground on the MiLson line, two and a half miles from the town, which the Alanawatu Aero Club has just acquired for aviation purposes. After the wedding on Wednesday Captain Buckley and his bride will probably visit Blenheim on their way south.

The bride is Aliss Pat Smidt, of Awapuni She has been a nurse in the Christchurch Hospital, and is very popular.

Advantage "as taken by the Aero Cub of Captain Buckley’s visit to make him the recipient-of a handsome silver casserole dish in honor of the occasion.

Opportunity was also taken after the landing to present to Alessrs Fairhall a iramed letter from Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith and Fiieut-Lieut. Ulm setting forth their appreciation of the generosity of tlie owners of Woodlimi rue in permitting their property to bo used by'the Southern Cross. The letter is an interesting and valuable memento of-an historic occasion.