EXPERIENCED PILOT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 831, 27 November 1929, Page 8

EXPERIENCED PILOT

AUCKLAND AERO CLUB’S NEW INSTRUCTOR

LIEUT- D. M. ALLAN APPOINTED

Securing: the services of one wkA such an exceptional record as structor and pilot, the /i.uckland A*** Club is fortunate in its new chief instructor, Lieut. D. M. Alan, who look over his duties on Monc.ay in succession to Major G. A. C. Cowper. Born in Waipukurau. Mr. Allan ie*. New Zealand with his oarents at an early age and his home was in tr. Falkland Islands for some yea** although later he went to England, where he received his secondary educationWhen the Great War broke out** was living in Tierra del Fuego, America, but joined up and quafineas a pilot with the Royal Naval AService in 1916. For some time aftf” this he was employed in instructing in machine gunnery and aerial ngnjing. He operated as instructor at botr. Eastcharch and Hounslow. At that time Avros and Cassels the favourite machines and Allan's experience embraced about S' hours dual instruction, while h* record today covers approximately sw hours in the air. In 1919. when he returned to Zealand. Mr. Allan was engaged sheep farming in the Hawke’s Bay district arid was a prominent member othe Hawke’s Bay Aero Club up to t-* A time of his present appointment- B** cently he went through the ie \ e! vf coarse at Sockburn and also coniptetea special course at the Hobsonvrlle ABase. He has been highly recommended by- the Defence Department for club flying. . Yesterday arrangements were for Mr. Allan to pilot Mr. Kennetn Mackenzie, surgeon, to Dargaville u* attend an urgent case, but the was postponed at the last minute owing to threaten:ng weather, althoog] it had been announced in the city tha*the plane was on its way.