DISPLAYS AT WIGRAM

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 November 1940, Page 3

DISPLAYS AT WIGRAM

9 I BEFORE LORD AND LADY GALWAY THOUSAND AIRMEN MARCH PAST. AIR-FIRING & DIVE-BOMBING. IBy Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, November 1. A short but impressive ceremony was staged at the Air Force Station at Wigram today on the occasion of the last official visit of their Excellencies Lord and Lady Galway to the station. The ceremony took the form of a marchpast by 1009 airmen of flic station, followed by a fly past of aircraft, and a demonstration of lhe phases of training that are carried out al flying training schools beyond lhe elementary stages.

Air to air firing, a training which it naturally a very important considera- ■ tion in the training of operational pilots. was demonstrated by the aircraft. Dive-bombing, as practised by pilots who will join operational squadrons, provided an effective display, low-level attacks being made by Oxfords. As all pilots must be trained to have a full knowledge of their aircraft and iheii behaviour in the air. there is no better method of ensuring this than by teaching a pupil aerobatics. In today’s' display aerobatics were limited, but they were greatly appreciated by the visitors. Instrument flying by two aircraft also provided an interesting demonstration. The final event of the display was an exhibition of synchronised aerobatics, which required considerable judgment and anticipation by the pilots of the two aircraft carrying out the manoeuvres as well as a high degree of skill in the forming of the actual evolutions themselves. While the main items of the display wore in progress formations of Oxfords and Fairey Gordon aircraft flew overhead and displayed most effectively the pitch of training to which pilots can be brought in the comparatively short space of time which is available for their training.