AERO DISPLAYS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 281, 22 July 1932, Page 8

AERO DISPLAYS

YISITS TO AUSTRALIA SUGGESTED BY OFFICER. • ; WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Suggestions that the New Zealand Aero Club should sponsor a visit to Australia by a team of New Zealand professional and club-trained pilots, or invite a team of Australian pilots to take part in displays and competitive events, were made to the club by Mr. B. Shiel, aviation officer of the Vaeuum Oil Company, yesterday. In his letter, Mr. Shiel remarked that there had been practically no cooperation between the aero clubs of Australia and New Zealand, and he thought that it would assist the progress of aviation if some means of closer co-operation could be iastablished. He suggested that the New Zea- | land Aero Club should sponsor a team of professional and club-trained pilots to visit Sydney and Melbourne and take part in displays and competitive events. "The team would need to consist of three professional pilots and three club-trained pilots, and the tour financed by means of a flying display at which the selection of New Zealand representatives could be made," he said. Mr. Shiel stated that he would "be leaving for Sydney and Melbourne within the next week, and if the council were favourable he was prspared to take up the matter with the aero clubs concerned and discuss the possibilities of the suggestion. Mr. G. M. Spence, president, said that the matter to be considered was whether the prineiple was desirable. Mr. W. L. Free (Wairarapa) objected to our inviting the Australians and the use of our machines for aerobatic displays. He did not think that his club would agree to it. Mr. Spence said that it cut both ways. If we went there the Australians would have to anticipate our using their own machines. Mr. Spencer Mason (Auckland) disagreed, but tnought it would be satisfaetory if the Australians brought a fine pilot with a really fast machine. It was estimated that a team of six pilots and a manager would cost £300, and doubt was expressed as to whether a pageant would raise that amount. A committee was set up to meet Mr. Shiel and convey to him the feelings of the meeting.