A “FLYING" VISITOR

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10617, 16 June 1920, Page 5

A “FLYING" VISITOR

CAPT. EUAN DICKSON, D.S.G. NEW ZEALAND'S STAR AVIATOR AT WELLINGTON. AERIAL CALL CONTEMPLATED. Captain Euan Dickson, D.S.C. and bar, D.F.C., and Croix do Guerre, director of the Canterbury Aviation Company's aerodrome at Sockburn, near Christchurch, arrived by the Lyttelton ferry steamer yesterday morning on a flying visit to AAellington.He will probably be returning to the South Island this evening.

In the course of an interview with a ‘'Times” representative yesterday, Captain Dickson intimated that ho hoped to pay Wellington a flying visit in a very different sense before long —bv aeroplane, in short, instead of by steamer. WAR KEYING SERVICE.

Captain Dickson, who is Scotch by birth, came out to New Zealand a few years before the war. He left New Zealand early in 1916, and on arrival in the Old Country, obtained a commission in the Royal Naval Air Service. He saw IS or 19 njoutbs’ continuous service flying on the V. estern front; and, after the war, was appointed to take charge of the Canterbury Aviation Company hero, arriving back in the Dominion for that purpose last November. In January, the four 110 horse-power Le Rhone Avro aeroplanes, which he had selected and packed in England, arrived in Now Zealand, and a week plater the company commenced carrying passengers on joy-rides. _ hoping that by adopting the English prices for rides, which are exceptionally low, taxing into account the expense of upxeep and the high running costs of aeroplanes, to popularise this form of sport, so that the aeroplanes may u - timately bo used hero for cotnmetctal, passengers and other purposes. In February a flight was made by Captain Dickson from Christchurch to Invercargill. Tills long flight was done in stages, with passengers between each stage. At each town on the way down and on the return journey ho gave pas-. setigcr flights to the local people. Inc trip occupied altogether 31 days, during which approximately 3600 miles were flown and over 500 passengers were carried without the slightest hitch or mishap, in spite of some very rough landing places that vvere used.' A number of cross-country' flights have . been done, including otic from Christchurch to the Horarata races (about 60 miles return), three or four irotn Christchurch to Akaroa (about 80 miles return), and one to Amberley, carrying Messrs Gerald and Wilfred Stead, who had to attend an important meeting there. Another cross-country flight was made from the Sockburn aerodrome .Christchurch, to the Aleudip Hills station, by Parnassus, a distance of roughly 93 miles from Christchurch. This trip was undertaken with, as passengers, Messrs Norman and r rank Rutherford, who wished to transact urgent business at.their station and desired a quick return to Christchurch. The outward journev occupied about an hour and a half, and the return journey just over the hour. The machine left Sockburn after breakfast, and brought its passengers back to Christchurch in time for luncheon, after doing an hours business at their station. In all, stated Captain Dickson, over 10,000 miles have been flown to date and over 1300 passengers carried, without any mishap. AERIAL PJDES FOR WELLINGTONIANS. In consequence of the numerous inquiries that have been received for flights into the North Island, ho added “It is contemplated that in the coming spring 1 will fly from Christchurch to the North Island, landing either at the Lower Hutt or at Treutham. Tins trip would mean a stay at Ivuikoura for a day or two to give joy rides there, and two or three days for the same purpose at Blenheim. A few days, also, would certainly be spent at Wellington to give people an opportunity of experiencing a flight or flights. But I can’t say anything definite yet as to the probable date of this first interisland flisht. This flight would be the pioneer of course, of further flights; and, probably, eventually of a passenger, cargo, and mail air-service, vyhum it is hoped to institute at a later date. Captain Dickson, in reply to a question, stated that he had come over to Wellington with Air C. H. Hewlett (deputy-chairman of the Canterbury Aviation Company), to see members of the Government in ’connection with aviation matters. AIINISTER GOES UP. A number of Wellington people, ho said, had indulged in aeroplane joy rides in the South Island; and during ■ his recent southern trip the Hon. .). G. Coates (Postmaster-General and Acting-Alinistcr for Defence) had) made a flight from the Sockburn aerodrome. Captain Dickson asked the -Minister if ha would like to loop the loop. Mr Coates said “Yes”: and the pilot then gave him a “loop” and a “roll,” which ho enjoyed immensely. They flew over Christchurch, and it being a clear day, the Minister bad a splendid bird’s-eye view of the city, in which he was greatly interested.