MODEL PLANES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 April 1941, Page 6

MODEL PLANES

COMPETITIONS AT HOOD AERODROME EXCELLENT STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE. INTERESTING NIGHT EVENT. The third annual interclub contest controlled by the Masterion Model Aero Club was held during Easter at the Hood Aerodrome, and attracted the largest, number of competitors since the annual contests were commenced three years ago. All visiting teams from Wellington Foxton and Wanganui, were housed in the roomy hangar, 33 bods being required, and although the weather was very unsuitable for good flying a number of events were run off. A special and very attractive new event tried out for the first time in New Zealand was the Model Aeroplane Derby. This event was flown at night and all planes had to be illuminated by means of a battery and bulb. Planes were required to make during a period of two hours as many flights as possible of not loss than 20 seconds duration, and to land within the aerodrome. To the astonishment of the competitors and committee, a total of 79 official flights of 20 seconds and over was recorded. The event was very popular with spectators. As many as three or four planes were up at a time, circling round with their lights showing through the darkness. There were no crashes out of the 79 flights recorded (which is a record) and there were no serious mishaps to the planes during the meeting. At the conclusion of the contest Mr L. Wright, speaking on behalf of the visiting competitors, especially thanked the committee of the Masterton Club for theip perfect management of so big a gathering. The organisation, he said, was really wonderful and one could not wish for anything better in running a contest.

Mr Len Tozer, captain of the Masterton Club, replied and thanked the visitors for their very kind expressions and said he was thrilled to know that his working committee had done their job thoroughly and to the satisfaction of all competitors, whom he hoped would come to Masterton as often as they could while they had the use of the Hood aerodrome.

Mrs W. G. Perry was then asked to present the prizes which wore as follows:—

H.L. Gliders: R. Freeman (Wellington). 73 3-ssec, 1.

Gas Model, 30sec motor run: W. G. Perry (Masterton), 3min 3 3-ssoc. 1: B. J. Daws (Foxton), 2min, 29 4-ssec.’2. Night Flying Derby: L. Wright (Wellington). 27 flights) 1; B. J. Daws (Foxton), 20 flights, 2; P. Bock (Wellington), 17 flights, 3.

Indoor Pole Flying: A. Carmine (Mastorton), 90 4-ssoc, 1; T. Thornley (Wellington), 73 4-ssec 2: A. Ackroyd (Wellington), 72sec, 3. The best junior performance during the meet ended in a draw: P. Beck (Wellington) and A. Carmine (Masterton). even points.

The Vincent Cup held by Mastorton last year, was won by the Wellington Club by 13 points to 9. Four classes were not flown owing to unsuitable weather.