AIR PAGEANT THRILLS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 941, 7 April 1930, Page 14

AIR PAGEANT THRILLS

DISPLAY AT HASTINGS MANY PLANES TAKE PART From Our Own Correspondent HASTINGS, Today. Stunt flying played a large part in the entertainment given at the air pageant at Hastings on Saturday, which was watched by about 3,000 spectators. A spectacular event which aroused great interest was the bomb-dropping- competition, in which Lieutenant Allen, of the Auckland Aero Club, distinguished himself. A touch of novelty was introduced by Captain Buckley, of the Air Force, who left a formation flight to climb to a high altitude, which the public was invited to estimate. A prize was offered. Private owners present were Miss Aroha Clifford (Christchurch), Mr. Douglas Mill (Auckland), and Mr. Hamisli Armstrong (Akito). Mr. Armstrong lent his machine to FlyingOfficer Olsen, of the Hawke’s' Bay Aero Club, who flew it and won a brilliant victory in the blue ribbon race for the Newbigin Cup. The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, patron of the club, arrived by airplane at 1.30 p.m. He was followed by Major-Gen-eral R. Young and Wing-Commander S. Grant Dalton, who also flew to the ground. The Hon. J. G. Cobbe, Minister of Defence, arrived by car from Napier-. Major-General Sir Andrew Russell, president of the club, and Mr. H. M. Campbell, M.P. for Hawke's Bay, were also present. Sir Andrew Russell extended a welcome to Mr. Coates, to whose great help and that of the Reform Government Sir Andrew attributed much of the success of the local club. Welcoming Mr. Cobbe, Sir Andrew said: “We do feel now that you and your Government are about to reduce expenditure on the land defence forces that part of the consequent saving will find its way into the hands of those who are promoting aviation—in other, words, into the hands of the Air Force of New Zealand.”

ENCOURAGING AVIATION Mr. Cobbe said the Government might be making a certain saving in respect of land forces, but that was a matter with which he could not deal at present. It was, however, being carefully investigated. He could assure the public in any event that the aviation branch of the forces and aviation generally would be encouraged and developed in every way. Mr. Coates SLiggested that the Minister would be cutting down defence expenses by £200,000, and said it would not take half that amount to give the Hawke’s Bay and East Coast Aero Club what it wanted. The club had provided itself with two machines and the Government had added another two. The club had trained 18 or 20 pilots. Flying must play an important part in the economic life of the country and the local club could well bo trusted to spend wisely any money entrusted to it for expenditure on aviation. Everything at the local airdrome was favourable to the development of an air centre in Hastings. Results of the events were as follow: “A” Pilots’ Landing Contest.—F. R. Dix (Mralborough), 1; R. S. Taylor (Canterbury), 2; B. W. Boys (Hawke’s Bay), 3. Twelve started. Lady Pilots’ Landing Contest.—Miss A. Clifford (Christchurch), 1; Miss P. Bennett (Marlborough), 2. The only Taxi Past, Fly Past and Landing.— Lieut. Allen (Auckland), 1; M. G. Firth (Auckland), 2: Miss P.- Benntt (Marlborough), 3. Ten started. All Transport Race. —Captain Mercer (Canterbury), 1; Captain Seabrook (Auckland), 2; Captain Blomfield (Auckland), Bombing.—Lieut. Allen, 1; Captain Blomfield, 2; Captain Seabrook, 3. Ten started. Slow Race. —Flying-Officer Keith (New Plymouth). Five started. New Zealand Light Airplane Blue Ribbon Race for Newbigin Cup, approximately ten miles. First heat: Flying-Officer Olsen (Hawke’s Bay). 1; Mr. Phil Seabrook (Auckland), 2; Captain J. Mercer (Canterbury), 3. Second heat: Captain T. W. White (Hawke’s Bay), 1; Lieut. Allen (Auckland), 2; Mr. F. R. Dix (Marlborough), 3. Final: Flying-Officer Olsen, 1; Captain White, 2; Lieut. Allen,