AVIATION

Hokitika Guardian, 11 April 1932, Page 6

AVIATION

DEATH OF AVIATOR

AT CONCLUSION OF FLIGHT

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.)

LONDON, April 9

Arriving .at Seaview, on the Isle of Wight, in a seaplane, from Rochester, Eustace 'Short, aged 52, the well-known partner in the firm of ’Short, Brothers, seaplane builders, alighted normally on the water. Then a launch went alongside and found HMfy fead in the cockpit. Eustace Short w.as under treatment for heart trouble. His death is attributed to a seizure, which must have occurred in the last stages of (lie descent, for he made a perfect- landing in the Medway, hut he failed to taxi in, so the launch went out, and found him dead.

He was one of the leading figures in British aeronautical research. He was a member of the family which was 'famous as (being first in ballooning and then in aircraft construction. He recently planned high altitude exploration by a balloon, and had hoped to reach a height of from 15 to 17 miles, and so beat the record of Doctor Piccard, the Belgian, who went up ten miles in a balloon.

AIRPORT AT TIM AR U-

TH E OFFICIAL OPENING

TIMARU, April 9

Designed to be the central South Island base for future commercial air transport services in the Dominion, the Tiniaru airport, established by t!i New Zealand Airways Ltd., was offi- # cially opened this afternoon in the presence of several thousand people by the Mayor, Mr T. W. Satterthwaife. The conditions were overcast and light rain fell, but the programme, which included a number of novelty events, in addition to an aerial display. was put through without interruption. A Tiniaru Derby resulted in an easy win for Squadron Leader <)• iM. Findlay, of Canterbury Aero Club. Flight-Lieutenant J. C. Mercer was second, and Pilot-Officer J. H. Smith, of 'Southland, was third. Twelve planes participated, -all from the South Island, with the exception of FiightiEieut. J. D. Hewitt, who came from Auckland to take part in the pageant.

Italian disaster

ROME, April 8.

Two officers and five men were killed when two manoeuvring bombing planes collided at Lonate-Pozzolo.