AVIATION RALLY.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 368, 24 February 1937, Page 4

AVIATION RALLY.

] ON STRATFORD ’DROME.

Coronation Week Plans of Aero Club.

The prospect of a gamble with the weather proved acceptable to the executive of the Stratford Aero Club, when the suggestion to hold a function at the aerodrome in connection v'ith the coronation celebrations in was considered, at a meeting last night. The meeting decided to inform the Stratford coronation committee that the Aero Club w f as willing to organise a club rally to be held in conjunction with the official opening of the aerodrome as part of the celebrations in coronation week. No definite day was decided on but members were inclined to the opinion that Coronation Day, Wednesday, May 12, which v'at first suggested, would not be suitable, as there is to be a race’meeting at Hawera on that day. Having considered advice received the executive decided that given reasonable weather there would be every prospect of a dozen or more machines taking part and that if a charge of Is per head were made to the public, there would be more than sufficient collected to cover expens.es.

The question of securing a license for the aerodrome was mentioned by the chairman, Mr Percy Thomson. The Public Works engineer, Mr J. E. Anderson, had informed him that as far as his department concerned there would be no difficulty in having the ground fit for landing before May. The Town Clerk, Mr G. C. Grace, had written to the Controller of Civil Aviation with regard to the securing of a license. A reply had been received that the aerodrome engineer would inspect the ground in April, and that the question of securing a license would be considered, following his inspection. When acquainted with this reply, said Mr Thomson, he had Written to the Controller of Aviation pointing out that if the club was to organise with a view to using the ground coronatiion week it was imperative that something should be done immediately with regard to the license. This letter had been sent on February 8 and a subsequent letter suggesting that the aerodrome engineer should inspect the aerodrome with members of Hip cluh with a view* to advising them with regard to the laying out of the ground, erection of buildings., etc., had been sent. No reply of any sort had been received. It was point'd out that even in the event of a permanent license not being granted in time it would be possible to secure a special license for the day of the rally.