DOMINION FLIER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 54, 1 February 1938, Page 2

DOMINION FLIER.

PLANS FOR VISIT. Per Press Association. BLENHEIM, Jan. 31. Flying-Officer A. E. Clouston’s Eng-land-New Zealand flight is now to end at Blenheim, according to a cablegram received this morning from Mr Clouston by Mr A. A. Mac Nab (president of the Marlborough Aero Club), who has been asked by the flier to act as his New Zealand manager. Mr Clouston advises that he is leaving England on February 7 and expects to arrive at Blenheim on February 11. Originally the aviator intended to conclude his flight at Motueka, his home town, but evidently upon the receipt of information regarding the aerodrome there, forwarded by the Motueka Borough Council, lie decided that the landing area was inadequate for a machine of the type he will be using. At the time it was n.nnounced that Motueka had invited Mr Clouston to land there the Marlborough Aero Club decided to despatch the details of the improved Blenheim aerodrome in case he required to use it in .an emergency. Mr Clouston, who learned to fly with the local club, is conversant with the location of the field and the flying conditions at Blenheim, and the information forwarded gave particulars of the extension of the field since his departure to England to join the Royal Air Force.

PARTICULARS OF AERODROME. The aerodrome at which Mr Clouston is to land is not the one from which the Southern Cross took off in 1928 on the first New ZeaLand-Australia flight. That was AA’oburn, where Mr Clouston was trained, but it has since reverted to a farm and has been ploughed. The text of the cablegram to Mr Mac Nab reads: “I am leaving England on February. 7 and will be in Blenheim on February 11. the only aerodrome suitable for the high landing speed of the Comet. I will spend four days in New Zealand before returning to England. Will you undertake to be my New Zealand manual/ Mac Nab states that the Marlborough Aero Club will make the local arrangements and. invitations will be extended to Mr Ciouston’s parents and all interested in aviation throughout New Zealand will be present at the landing. ~,,,,, ~ . , “I personally am delighted to trunk that one of our star pupils is returning to the scene of his early training under such circumstances,” added Mr Mac Nab. “Mr Clouston is assured ot a warm welcome to Blenheim arid no doubt he will visit Motueka and the club will be pleased to provide him with a machine.” IN SEVEN HOPS. As far as is known the flight to New Zealand will bo made in seven hops as follows : —Croydon to Damascus Damascus to Karachi, Karachi to Calcutta Calcutta to Singapore Singapore to Darwin, Darwin to Sydney and Sydney to Blenheim.' . . MOTCEKA’S HOPES. FURTHER REPRESENTATIONS. Per Press Association. NELSON, Jan. 31. The Mayor of Motukea (Mr J. L. York) has received word from FlyingOfficer Clouston that he will land at Blenheim for breakfast oil lebruary 11 owing to being unable to take olt from Motueka with a full load. Officials are making further representations to Mr Clouston to see if it is possible for him to land at Motueka and then proceed on to Blenheim for refuelling and the next take off. Extensive preparations have been made in Motueka and hopes are still entertained that Mr Clouston will be able to make his home town his New Zealand terminus.