HAWERA AIR PAGEANT

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 944, 10 April 1930, Page 8

HAWERA AIR PAGEANT

10 PLANES COMPETE WIND CAUSES TROUBLE Press Association HAWERA, Wednesday. j The first air pageant to be held in j Taranaki took place today, under the j auspices of the Hawera Aero Club, at the Egmont racecourse. Between 600 and 700 people were on the grounds, while further large numbers viewed the events from other points of vantage in the vicinity. Ten airplanes were present, representing Canterbury, Marlborough, Wellington, New Plymouth, Hamilton and Auckland. Fine weather favoured the opening of the programme at 2 p.m., but light showers were experienced from 3 p.m. onward. A stiff northerly breeze, which rose in occasional gusts, also presented difficulties to the pilots. Commencing with a massed parade, the programme consisted of features, including the Egmont Air Cup race, formation flying, bombing, and a parachute descent by a dummy. Captain MacGregor, of Hamilton, provided a succession of thrills for the crowd with an exhibition of aerial acrobatics and upside-down flying. He also appeared with Flight-Lieutenant Buckley, of the New Zealand Air Force, in an aerial battle. Other pilots who competed were:—Miss Arolia Clifford, Christchurch; Captain Wallingford, t Auckland; Flying-Officer Keith, New Plymouth; Miss P. Bennett and Mr. F. R. Dixon, Blenheim; Captain J. Mercer, Christchurch; > Captain G. Stedman, Wellington: and Pilot-Officer J. Buckeridge, Christchurch. Flight-Lieuten-ant Burrell, of the New Zealand Air Force, officiated as judge and did not fly his Moth, which was piloted by Mr. Buckeridge. The later also flew a D.H. 50. The competitive events resulted: Landing Contest.—Captain MacGregor, 1; Flight-Lieutenant Buckley, 2. Five competed. Balloon Bursting.—Flying-Officer Keith. Five competed. Bombing.—Pilot-Officer Buckeridge, 1; Captain Mercer, 2. Folu’ competed. Egrnont Air Cup, 6 miles.—First heat: Captain MacGregor, 1; Captain Mercer, 2; Miss Bennett, 3. The only starters. Second heat: Captain Stedman, 1; Mr. F. R. Dix, 2; Flying-Officer Keith, 3. Also started: Miss Clifford. Third heat: Flight-Lieutenant Buckley, 1; Captain Wallingford, 2; PilotOfficer Biickridge, 3. The only starters. Final: Captain MacGregor, 1: FlightLieutenant Buckley, 2: Captain Stedman, 3. It was a thrilling finish.