AERIAL TOUR STARTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 783, 2 October 1929, Page 6

AERIAL TOUR STARTS

FOUR PLANES SOAR ALOFT FROM MANGERE FIRST STOP AT PAEROA The ugly dark cumulus clouds of early morning lifted and the weather cleared. Then sharp at nine o’clock this morning in bright sunshine, four D.H. Gipsy-Moth airplanes soared aloft from the Mangere Airdrome. They circled overhead, then winged their way for Paeroa, the first landing ground in the Auckland Aero Club’s organised tour of the North island. T ONG before the starting time the quartet of trim Moth planes were wheeled out and into line. The cryptic lettering on their wings and sides, the camber of the wings and the streamlining of the fuselage, the brave 'gaudiness of the coloured prows, presented an imposing array. Each had been filled at the petrol pump and the instructor, Major G. A. C. Cowper, and his ground engineer were busy, tripping from one machine to another to see that all was in order. About 8.30 the pilots, their passengers and friends, arrived on the scene. There was plenty of gossip and visitors viewed with interest the pilots as they packed their bags neatly into the small locker at the rear of the after cockpit. It was surprising how much could be carried, in such a light plane. A suggestion that the machines should first fly over H.M.S. Diomede to dip and thus show recognition of the warship’s departure for England resulted in a short Korero among the “heads.” But the hour was then too late and it was disappointingly announced that time did not permit to bid this informal farewell. “CONTACT” “Contact”—There was a roar of motors. Each pilot tested his engine. With the signal “0.K.,” the chocks were pulled away and planes taxied for their take-off. Mr. lan Horton, in his own machine with Mr. E. W. Wright, a pupil of the club, as passenger, was the first to leave the line. His plane took a long run before rising, hut she was heavily loaded with baggage, and it makes a big difference. He circled aloft and was soon joined by Capt. J. Seabrook, with Mr. W. Marshall, Mayor of Paeroa, as passenger. Then came Capt. L. Hewett, who was followed by Major Cowper with his passenger, Mr, Spencer Mason, chairman of the Auckland Aero Club.

In order, the planes circled over the airdrome and the small band of onlookers, peering skyward, waved its farewell. And so four planes have left on the first section of a tour which has been organised to stimulate interest in the flying club movement and advance the move for a chain of airdromes. The machines were scheduled to arrive at Paeroa at 10 o’clock this morning, when a landing was made a* the racecourse. A conference is to be held there with local body representatives and the night will be spent at Te Aroha, a landing ground having been chosen on Mr. George Goodfeliow’s property. Tomorrow, Morrinsville, Cambridge and Te Awamutu will be visited, the planes returning to Auckland at midday on Friday. The Aero Club’s ball is to be held that evening. TWO-STAGE ITINERARY The tour will resume again at 9 o’clock on Saturday morning, when New Plymouth will be the first stop. Eu route it is expected that the flotilla will be joined at Hamilton by Capt. MacGregor iu one of the Hamilton Airways’ machines. Sunday will he spent at New Plymouth and the programme provides for stops at Hawera and Wanganui on Monday. At Wanganui flights will be given to winners of a school children’s essay competition. It is intended to leave Wanganui on Tuesday morning for Wellington, where the Acting-Director of Air Services, Major L. M. Isitt, reports the municipal airdrome to be suitable foxlanding. On the return trip up the other coast the machines will stop at Hastings and Gisborne, and they are due to arrive back here on the morning of October 11.