THE FORCED LANDING.

Shannon News, 12 February 1929, Page 3

THE FORCED LANDING.

MAJOR ISITiT FLIES TO AUCKLAND IN ANOTHER PLANE.

FIRST MACHINE BEING .FITTED WITH NEW ENGINE.

Major L. Mi. Islitt, who on Thurs day evening, when flying a Bristol fighter from Blenheim en route to Hawera and Auckland, made a forced landing at Waikanae Beach, resumed his journey on Friday and Saturday in .another Bristol fighter, sent up from Soekburn and landed at Hobsonville on Saturday. The plane in which Major Isitt leit Christchurch on Thursday morning was the one used by Kingsford Smith and Ulm on their tour of New Zealand last year. It was intended for use in the mimic battle at Orewa next Thursday, when it was to have been piloted by Major Isitt, who is the officer commanding the air base at Hobsonville. From Christchurch last Thursday the plane was flown to Blenheim. After leaving that station it was the intention of Major Isitt, who had with him in the observer’s cockpit Air-Me r chanic Corporal Smith, of the Wigram military aerodrome, to fly to Hawera, but when crossing Cook Strait the engine gave trouble and a forced landing had to be made on the Waikanae Beach. The defect was not one which at that time was considered dangerous, but if the journey had been continued to Hawera the engine would have seized, so the pilot considered it wise to make the landing where he did.

Another Bristol machine was brought up from Christchurch on Friday by Captain Burrell, who arrived at Wakanae at 5.30 p.m. Major Isitt left in this machine a quarter of an hornlater and flew to Hawera, proceeding next morning to H-.bsonville, which was reached at 9.45 a.m. after a good flight, in which an. average speed of 80 miles an hour was maintained. A new engine for the first plane arrived at Wellington from Christchurch by the Lyttelton ferry on Saturday morning and was brought on to Waikanae by motor lorry. The mechanic proceeded to fit the new engine, a work of some magnitude, which it-'is hoped to complete this afternoon. All being well, Captain Burrell will fly to Blenheim this evening. The trouble with the original engine was of such a nature that it could pot be repaired at the place of landing, hence the necessity for ordering another engine. Major Isitt’s duty on Thursday next at Orewa will comprise a messagedropping demonstration and close and extended reconnaissance flying. A Press Association telegram received from Auckland to-day states that he will be accompanied in the plane on Thursday morning by the Hon. T. M. Wilford, Minister of Defence.