SMALLER THAN MOTH

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 488, 18 October 1928, Page 18

SMALLER THAN MOTH

WELLINGTON’S FIRST PLANE AVRO AVIAN ARRIVES Press Association WELLINGTON, Wednesday. With her silver wings sparkling in the morning sunlight, the small Avro Avian airplane, owned by Messrs. Goodwin and Chichester, of Wellington, circled over the city to-day on her arrival from Blenheim. After flying over the city for about ten minutes the machine headed for the Lyall Bay recreation ground, and Captain Bolt made a perfect landing at 12.15 p.m. Immediately afterwards the machine was surrounded by a large crowd of interested schoolboys. Mr. G. Godwin, one of the owners, accompanied Captain Bolt as a passenger, and owing to the system of dual control was able to take charge of the machine several times. On landing he said that they had had a very fine trip from Blenheim, but had experienced big bumps over Tory Channel. Although the atmosphere was not very clear a magnificent view was obtained of Wellington and they could see right up the coast as far as Kapiti Island. The Avro Avian plane, which was built by A. V. Roe and Company, England, is the first machine of its type to be imported into New Zealand, and is slightly smaller than the Moth owned by Mr. Douglas Mill, of Auckland. )!t is an identical machine to that used by Mr. Bert Hinkler in his record-breaking flight from England to Australia. The Avro Avian weighs only 861 lb without passengers or fuel, and 1,600 lb when fully loaded.

MR. D. MILL- FLIES SOUTH Press Association DUNEDIN, Wednesday. The Auckland airman, Mr. Douglas Mill, accompanied by Mr. Frank Milner, rector of the Waitaki Boys’ High School, arrived at Dunedin this morning in his Moth airplane. He made the trip from Waitaki School to Wingatui in 55 minutes. He intends to go to Invercargill to-morrow morning if the weather permits, and will return to Dunedin in the afternoon. Mr. Mill said the cost of the trip from Christchurch to Dunedin, carrying a passenger, was 28s, which was far cheaper than the train fare.