AIR RENDEZVOUS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 January 1933, Page 6

AIR RENDEZVOUS

AT THE FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER

OPINION OF MR J. C. MERCER

Franz Josef Glacier, in South Westland, is likely to become a favourite holiday r esort with flying people, in th e opinion of Mr J. C. Mercer, instruct ol the 'Canterbury Aero Club, who recently flew from Hokitika to the glacier and made a number of passenger flights.

Especially in that part of th e year when there is. a good chance of getting fair weather, Mr Mercer thinks that pilots who have once flown there will want to go back to spend week-end? Already the landing-ground is good enough for any careful pilot Some of the residents and a number of visitors flaw round t*b e country with Mr Mercer to get a new angle on the magnificent scenery. Mr Merce r declares that the views from the air in this region are unequal, 1 , £ d by . anyth in else in New Zealand. The. longest flight he made was one of a little more than an hour, round Mt. Cook. “The -Graham- brothers are doing -excellent work on the aerodrome they bav G formed.” M r ■ Mercer said. “They have still got a man on the job alt the time, and there js a runway, in on e direction, of 350 yards. From the air the ground looks a lot more tricky than it really

“I think it would b P an excellent idea, if the aero clubs, or perhaps the New' (Zealand Aero Club, gav e the Grahams- a little help with the work, for a- good ground is going to make some very fine scenic flights possible. “Aero club pilots will be making a regular rer-ort of the Franz boifore "very 1-ong, and it w*.!l be a great attraction for tourists.”