RACING IN THE SKY

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 947, 14 April 1930, Page 14

RACING IN THE SKY

AUCKLAND’S SECOND AIR PAGEANT McGREGOR WINS DERBY One lone winged shape came from the west. Three defending planes climbed rapidly to engage it and together they swooped and darted about. The attack on the ammunition dump at the Mangere Airdrome had begun. It was a glimpse of aerial warfare. followed by formation flying, which terminated the programme of the Auckland air pageant on Saturday. And as the birdmen left the skies a multitude of wheels turned toward the city. A day of entertaining air stunts and contests was over. An erratic and gusty wind, sometimes attaining almost gale strength, prevailed throughout the day, but heedless of the elements, thousands of people and tier after tier of cars lined the boundaries of the airdrome. Nor did it spoil the performances of the pilots, who soared aloft to race and stunt, and make the heavens a spacious stadium.

The guiding wind-sock on the flagpole of the hangar billowed steadily in the cold wind, while about the airdrome there was nearly a score of planes, all rocking gently to and fro. but firmly secured against the wind. But the machines, before they took the air, provided an abundance of interest to spectators. The machines represented practically the latest in scientific features, while among them were types not previously seen in Auckland. The first event of the day was the landing competition. One by one the machines were started up, and roared aloft to rob the wheeling gulls of their place in the heavens. It was difficult to make good landings, and it required uncanny judgment. Many of the planes swung slowly down, to go far from the mark. Some of the experienced pilots, however, made remarkably good landings, and Wing-Commander F. Grant-Dalton, in a short address after the contest, commented upon the perfect landing made by Major Cowper and the other placed pilots. Real thrills came when the planes taxied down to the far end of the field and with noses into the wind soared aloft to wing their way over the course for the aerial derby. Almost beneath the limits of safety they roared away close to the ground and raced over a circuit about the airdrome. There were close finishes, and interest was keen. So ended the morning’s activities and there proved to be much in store for the afternoon. AFTERNOON PROGRAMME After lunch there started a vast and sinuous mesh of traffic toward the airdrome. There were long lines of cars broken here and there by motor-buses which were crowded to uncomfortable capacity. Traffic officers and policemen guided the throbbing coil of traffic and handled the position expeditiously. On all sides of the airdrome the crowds stood in poised expectantcy awaiting the first event of the afternoon programme. The inter-club contest proved one of the finest races of the day. The four competitors representative of Auckland, Canterbury and Marlborough and Hawke’s Bay Aero Clubs went away to a good start. Miss Bennett, of Marlborough, taking a slight lead. At the end of the first lap she still had the lead from Newbigin, from Hawke’s Bay, but rounding the point for the first, Newbigin stole a lead and won by a small margin. „ Next came the salient feature of the carnival. It was the grand parade. Never in the Dominion has such a spectacle been witnessed in connection with an air pageant. One by one the planes taxied round the field with mechanics walking beside and suppor ting the wings. And then one by one they went aloft. The discipline of the skies was taught in the precise evolutions of Allan who led the circus. In line abreast, in single file, in diamond shape or like the course of homing birds, they traced a clockwork pattern. NOVELTY EVENTS The latter part of the programme , was richly flavoured with novelty i events. ‘•Bombing baby” was perhaps the most amusing. A small car raced about the airdrome while planes soared overhead and endeavoured to bomb it with small bags of flour but, with the wind, it was a difficult task for the pilots to hit their object. The balloon straffing competition was crossed off the programme owing to the strong wind. It was not until nearing the end of the programme that the final of the AeriaL Derby took place. McGregor repeated his performance of the second heat, taking the lead on the first corner. He was well ahead at the last bend and finished 200 yards ahead of Bloomfield. A parachute descent by Captain Jonnassen, of Thames, which prom-

ised to be a salient feature of the programme, was not permitted by Wing-Commander Grant-Dalton owing to the windy conditions, and this caused considerable disappointment. Then the non-arrival of Rear-Admiral Byrd, who was to be the distinguished guest of the day, also met with disappointment, although a great burst of cheering broke the silence at the conclusion of one of the events when Mr. Chichester, the New Zealand aviator who recently completed a successful flight from England to Australia, arrived in his much-travelled Moth machine. He received a rousing reception and his machine was quickly surrounded by an eager and curious crowd. He left later in the afternoon for Rotorua. A FORCED LANDING An incident which caused consternation for a few moments took place during the semi-final of the derby, when Captain Buckley was forced down on one of the mud-fiats which border the Manukau. He was marrooned there for some time. Flying one of the fastest machines at the pageant, he roared away to take the lead from the other competitors, and while flying dangerously low he was seen to suddenly disappear behind a small hill. Crowds rushed across the paddocks to his assistance, but could not reach 1 him owing to the surrounding acres * of almost impassable mud and water. A dinghy was dispatched and it was found that Captain Buckley had made a perfect landing and the machine was not damaged. Shortage of benzine was the cause of the mishap and after refuelling had taken place it was found possible to get a short runway and the plane flew black to the airdrome. From the enthusiasm shown, it was quite apparent that interest in flying pageants has by no means waned, yet ! it would be a safe prophesy that in the near future people will demand ’ something more than short contests and displays of stunting. Some bigger ■ event in the form of a race from one end of the Island to the other, or i from Bluff to Auckland, will at some , future date probably prove the big air . venture of the year. Such would stimulate great interest in flying and ' would illustrate the reliability of the * | present-day machine. So many New - j Zealanders have yet to be convinced j that flying is comparatively safe. " i Following are the results: I NEW ZEALAND AERIAL DERBY (Pilots who have flown 40 hours solo.) First heat. —Captain M. Buckley (Air " i Force), 1: Lieutenant lan Keith (New | Plymouth). 2. \r ; Second heat.—Captain McGregor (Ham* r, ! ilton), 1 : Major G. A. C. Cowper (Hamilton), 2. 4 Third heat.—Captain J. Seabrook

(Auckland), 1; Mr. D. Mill (Hobsonville), Fourth heat. —Captain W. S. R. Bloomfield (Auckland), 1; Captain Stedman (Wellington), 2. Final.—Captain McGregor, 1; Captain j Bloomfield. 2; Captain Seabrook. Z. The semi-final was not properly decided. • owing to Captain Buckley’s mishap, and so the winners of the second, third and I fourth heats started in the final. LANDING COMPETITION'S (“A” Licence Pilots.) Mr. F. R. Dix (Marlborough) 1 | Mr. D. H. Newbegin (Hawke's Bay) 2 (“B*’ Licence Pilots.) Major G. A. C. Cowper (Hamilton) .. 1 j Captain M. C. McGregor (Hamilton) 2 Lieutenant D. M. Allan (Auckland) .. Z j BOMBING THE “BABY” Lieutenant D. M. Allan (Auckland) . 1 ' Captain M. C. McGregor (Hamilton) 2 j INTER-CLUB CHALLENGE TROPHY RACE Newbigan (Hawke’s Bay) i Miss Bennett (Marlborough) 2 Grigg (Christchurch) z FIRST AERIAL PICNIC ELEVEN MACHINES FLY TO RUSSELL ENTERTAINED BY MAORIS The first aerial picnic of any consequence to be held in New Zealand took place yesterday when eleven of the airplanes which took part in the pageant on Saturday flew to Russell. Eight of the planes left from Mangere and were later joined by three others from the Hobsonville Air Base. The party left Auckland at 10.30 and arrived at Russell at 12.15, landing in a suitable paddock owned by I ® Maoris had prepared j a kapa Maori” and the visitors lunched !° n foods prepared in native style. Later, the party was entertained with poi dances. It was not until 4 o’clock in the atternoon that the party left the northern settlement on its return trip and, after two hours’ flying, was over the Mangere airdrome. The light was then lading, but all pilots made excellent landings.