AIR PAGEANT

Hokitika Guardian, 24 February 1930, Page 3

AIR PAGEANT

TEN- THOUSAND SPECTATORS,

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association )

BLENHEIM, Feb. 23

. There’must have been ten thousand people from Wellington, Nelson and all; the Marlborough and surrounding districts: at ‘/Wood-burn Aerodrome today, !when the* first full size Air Pageant was held under the auspices of the Marlborough Aero Club. There was ideal weather for flying and the whofle function..went, off. without a hitch- area ■mishap.. Any ffind”; of comied'jLelemeht was not lacking such as'MV- ‘Make off non such,” a monoplane, oh a-non-stop flight piloted by “Count;-' Rendered,” and an aerial Flight Lieutenants .‘Buckley Itnd Burrell., The pageant really conimenced on Friday when the “Zero Hour” competition was held. This was for visiting; pilots.’ They had to land nearest tona specified time. The event was won .fey Aliks'’Aroha Clifford. The Landing Competition for A pilots brought out a' fairly large entry and Miss Clifford was again successfuL:--. boating Miss P. Bennett (Blenheim),- and'D. Grigg (Christchurch). A* parade of the .planes- followed, with- a’.landing competition: for E. Pilots and Pilot Officers, There was a very la/rge entry for this . event, .in . which- Government- planes competed. Captain MacGregor (Hamilton) was well, ahead of the others. F. D. Mill .(Auckland), Captain Bolt (Wellington), Captain Barlow (Christchurch) were-close together in that order. Ta-.the All Tinnsport Race, the' competitors had to cycle 50 yards, motor 50 yards to planes, fly round : a given point,, and return- via- car arul cycles. Thi s ' event was run in three heats; and., a .final', the winner turning up in Captain MacGregor, Captian -Mercer (Christchurch) was second. The result of the height estimating contest .■ will- not be known for a few

days. The -big event of the day was the New Zealand Air Gap for light planes run- over »• course' of' five miles. This was. also flown in three heats, the final‘being won -by Captain ' Barlow (Christchurch), in a Gipsy Moth. The time. was-. 6.19. . : .

Captain. Bolt won the slow race for light planes.. Of great spectacular interest Was an exhibition of orazy flying by Captain jf .!■ C. MacGregor (Hamilton). Formation flying by officers of the New Zealand Air Force, in which three Bristols and three Moths tools part in .a bombing exhibition, wherein the flyers endeavoured; to hit a moving, motor car with bags of flour; a parachute descent'by “Colonel Sandbags,” 4ml an exhibition of stunting in a Griebe. by .Flight Lieutenant Buckley, also a ground air parade 'by all the machines, concluded a very successful pageant. ■