Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 28, 2016 1:16:03 GMT 12
I just happened upon this on Papers Past, in the Star newspaper (Christchurch), dated 27 December 1918:
AVIATION.
A BIG DAY'S FLYING.
FOURTEEN PASSENGERS GO UP.
Free at last from the responsibility of training men for the Royal Air Force, the Canterbury Aviation Company yesterday threw its aerodrome open to the general public for a flying exhibition, an air race and a series of passenger flights.
The step was taken as an experiment, to some extent, but flight is still such a novelty in New Zealand, where half the population have not yet seen their first aeroplane, that the people went out to the flying ground in droves, and no fewer than fourteen persons made sustained passenger flights at altitudes that were in no case less than about 2500 feet.
The day’s programme was pleasantly varied with trick flying and a race, and the crowd was loth to leave at the end of a very enjoyable and exciting day’s outing.
FINE FLYING WEATHER.
Overcast but very favourable flying weather prevailed up till noon, but the special cars to Riccarton were overflowing from eleven o’clock onwards, and as the day wore on, and a steady easterly wind rolled the clouds back from a clear blue sky, the crowd became steadily larger at the aerodrome.
Those who caught the midday tram saw a black speck climbing towards the clouds as they approached Upper Riccarton. The speck climbed up gradually and disappeared in the clouds, to emerge a few seconds later in a graceful spiral volplane. This was the first passenger flight of the day, Mr C. M. Hill, the chief instructor, having as his passenger Mrs H. F. Wigram, who was the first lady passenger in the South Island, and who still holds the altitude record for a lady.
All the other passengers, during the day, however, were making their first trips, and they were carefully although vainly watched, for evidences of nervousness.
The wind freshened from the east, but was ideal not only for flying but for sightseeing from the air, and pilots and passengers came down with enthusiastic praise of the long white stretch of Pacific coast, the clearly outlined Motunau island, the West Coast ranges, and the nearer view of the familiar Port Hills.
The visitors overran the hangars and their immediate vicinity, and even penetrated to a special workshop where a fast scouting model has taken shape, and is about to be turned out for trial. Afternoon tea had been provided, but the earlier visitors started to make luncheon out of it, and by three o’clock the stores had-run out, so great was the demand.
The number of motorcars on the ground was very large, and many persons made a pleasant picnic of the occasion watching the flying from sheltered spots on the grass. Numerous chairs were provided, and altogether the comfort of the visitors was well studied, and they expressed themselves highly satisfied with their novel day’s entertainment.
THE PASSENGER LIST.
The passenger flights were made in the two Hundred-horse-power dual control biplanes, which were flown alternatefiy and at times simultaneously. Mr J. C. Mercer shared the work of pilotage with his chief (Mr C. M. Hill), and his passengers were extremely pleased with their flights, which lacked nothing in the matter of altitude or duration; or safety. Mr J. G. Cree, manager of the Christchurch Motor Garage,, made a special flight over the city. Mr Robert Bell, managing director of the Lyttelton Times Company, and a director of the Aviation Company, made his maiden flight, and like the other passengers, expressed himself eager for more. Mr W. Bowles, of Christchurch, was Mr Mercer’s passenger in the air race, and liked the sport so much that he made a second trip with Mr Hill. Mrs Bowles also had a flight, and later Master. Bowles was an enthusiastic passenger, well wrapped up.
The passenger flights extended until 5-30 p.m. The following made flights in the order named:—
Mrs H. F. Wigram (Mr Hill).
Mr J. G. Cree (Mr Hill).
Mrs W. Bowles (Mr Hill).
Mr W. Bowles (Mr Mercer).
Mr A. V. Smith (Mr Hill).
Mr Robert Bell (Mr Hill).
Mr R. Pratley (Mr Mercer)
Mr L. Shearman (Mr Mercer).
Mr G. Hornung (Mr Hill).
Mrs Andrew Burns. (Mr Hill).
Master W. W. Bowles (Mr Mercer).
Mr WV. Bowles, second flight (Mr Hill).
Mr W. Davis (Mr Mercer).
Mr C. Pearce (Mr Hill).
In addition to these passengers, several other trips were booked towards the close of the day with the secretary (Mr C. W: Hervey), and it is the intention of the company to give passenger flights by arrangement at mutually suitable times.
A stranger who flew the small solo machine very prettily during the afternoon was. Mr A. W. Morland, of Rakaia, a pupil of the school, who took his pilot’s ticket just before the armistice, and unfortunately was too late to embark for the front. Mr Morland, under a special arrangement with the company, which will be extended to all qualified pupils of the school, has engaged an aeroplane for an hour’s flying at a reduced rate, and yesterday he took fifteen minutes of his hour, flying with great confidence and banking very prettily.
STUNT FLYING.
The exhibitions of stunt flying by Mr Hill played most amusingly on the emotions of the multitude. The machine in which he flew was the “pup” of the establishment, a little 40 h.p. Midge, short in the wing spread, but quick to the pilot’s touch. A lane of people opened up, as the little machine taxied out of the crowd, and just to show what could be done Mr Hill took off in a comparatively few yards, and climbed until he had a couple of thousand feet below him. He took up a position towards the hills within easy viewing distance of the ’drome, and tried his mount out in a few switchback curves. Then he swung up on his wingtip and described a side-loop, the wing being at right angles to Mother Earth throughout the circuit.
Pulling out of one side-loop hm described a reverse circle, and then did a cartwheel, which consists of a short dive, a recovery, a standing upright on the tail, and a lazy side roll back into tlie horizontal. Mostly the spectators watched with beaming fascination for mere flying to half of them was still a nine days’ wonder, and as each swoop of the aeroplane offered a new-proof of man’s air mastery they gave themselves up to admiring comments and flattering remarks about the pilot and his machine.
Mr Hill climbed round towards the road, and executed a series of nose dives, in which his little machine pointed directly to earth, but the steady hand on the controls pulled the machine into the horizontal, and presently it was swooping down out of a cartwheel at the heads of the crowd.
Everybody made sure that Mr Hill was going to crash into the roof of the central hangar. Even the initiated thought he was cutting it rather fine, but he steered for the narrow gap between two of the hangars to give clearance for his undercarriage and as the machine skimmed, the heads of the crowd there was an involuntary cheer and hand-clapping, which the pilot acknowledged with a friendly wave.
A PRETTY LOOP.
A veritable loop varied the afternoon’s trick flying. Mr Hill dived with his engine in, swept up and up past the vertical, and had just sufficient way on to carry him over the top of the circle, with pilot and machine most palpably upside down. The only variation from the ideal loop was that the machine at the top of the circle-tilted over on one wing and had to be brought out in what might be called a sloping dive. This was due to lack of the horse-power necessary to carry the machine over the dead centre but the loop was complete.
Mr Hill varied his tricks with a pretty tail slide. This is brought about by “climbing” the machine until it loses flying speed, when it slides back on its tail. At one time this was a fatal feat, but in experienced hands nowadays the machine merely slips until the weight of the engine at the forward end, induces a reverse dive, and the pilot pulls her out flat with his horizontal controls.
Mr Hill’s efforts to entertain a crowd were never before so successful, and he was rewarded with very genuine outbursts of applause from the crowd, which surged towards his machine at every landing.
THE AIR RACE.
A very sensational event was the race between two 100 horse-power machines. piloted by Messrs. Hill and Mercer. Mr Hill had as passenger Mr Smith, and Mr Mercer’s passenger was Mr Bowles, whose wife had previously made a flight. The conditions were that the machines should leave the aerodrome simultaneously and fly as far as the fence on the boundary of the Show Grounds. There they were to turn outwards, and fly back to the aerodrome at not loss than 1000 ft, where they were to turn again and land to the central ring. The machines got away nicely, and although Mr Mercer had an infinitely heavier passenger, he climbed to a considerably greater altitude than Mr Hill. The machines were not easy to follow when they were over the Show Grounds, but as they turned the sun shone brightly on their wings. Mr Mercer was the first to turn, and had a distinct lead on Mr Hill on the return journey, but he overflew the aerodrome, whereas Mr Hill, with a sharper bank, swung his machine around quickly and swooped down to the mark, a narrow winner. Both pilots and their passengers wore heartily applauded as they returned to the hangars. The time for the return trip was a fraction under nine minutes.
AVIATION.
A BIG DAY'S FLYING.
FOURTEEN PASSENGERS GO UP.
Free at last from the responsibility of training men for the Royal Air Force, the Canterbury Aviation Company yesterday threw its aerodrome open to the general public for a flying exhibition, an air race and a series of passenger flights.
The step was taken as an experiment, to some extent, but flight is still such a novelty in New Zealand, where half the population have not yet seen their first aeroplane, that the people went out to the flying ground in droves, and no fewer than fourteen persons made sustained passenger flights at altitudes that were in no case less than about 2500 feet.
The day’s programme was pleasantly varied with trick flying and a race, and the crowd was loth to leave at the end of a very enjoyable and exciting day’s outing.
FINE FLYING WEATHER.
Overcast but very favourable flying weather prevailed up till noon, but the special cars to Riccarton were overflowing from eleven o’clock onwards, and as the day wore on, and a steady easterly wind rolled the clouds back from a clear blue sky, the crowd became steadily larger at the aerodrome.
Those who caught the midday tram saw a black speck climbing towards the clouds as they approached Upper Riccarton. The speck climbed up gradually and disappeared in the clouds, to emerge a few seconds later in a graceful spiral volplane. This was the first passenger flight of the day, Mr C. M. Hill, the chief instructor, having as his passenger Mrs H. F. Wigram, who was the first lady passenger in the South Island, and who still holds the altitude record for a lady.
All the other passengers, during the day, however, were making their first trips, and they were carefully although vainly watched, for evidences of nervousness.
The wind freshened from the east, but was ideal not only for flying but for sightseeing from the air, and pilots and passengers came down with enthusiastic praise of the long white stretch of Pacific coast, the clearly outlined Motunau island, the West Coast ranges, and the nearer view of the familiar Port Hills.
The visitors overran the hangars and their immediate vicinity, and even penetrated to a special workshop where a fast scouting model has taken shape, and is about to be turned out for trial. Afternoon tea had been provided, but the earlier visitors started to make luncheon out of it, and by three o’clock the stores had-run out, so great was the demand.
The number of motorcars on the ground was very large, and many persons made a pleasant picnic of the occasion watching the flying from sheltered spots on the grass. Numerous chairs were provided, and altogether the comfort of the visitors was well studied, and they expressed themselves highly satisfied with their novel day’s entertainment.
THE PASSENGER LIST.
The passenger flights were made in the two Hundred-horse-power dual control biplanes, which were flown alternatefiy and at times simultaneously. Mr J. C. Mercer shared the work of pilotage with his chief (Mr C. M. Hill), and his passengers were extremely pleased with their flights, which lacked nothing in the matter of altitude or duration; or safety. Mr J. G. Cree, manager of the Christchurch Motor Garage,, made a special flight over the city. Mr Robert Bell, managing director of the Lyttelton Times Company, and a director of the Aviation Company, made his maiden flight, and like the other passengers, expressed himself eager for more. Mr W. Bowles, of Christchurch, was Mr Mercer’s passenger in the air race, and liked the sport so much that he made a second trip with Mr Hill. Mrs Bowles also had a flight, and later Master. Bowles was an enthusiastic passenger, well wrapped up.
The passenger flights extended until 5-30 p.m. The following made flights in the order named:—
Mrs H. F. Wigram (Mr Hill).
Mr J. G. Cree (Mr Hill).
Mrs W. Bowles (Mr Hill).
Mr W. Bowles (Mr Mercer).
Mr A. V. Smith (Mr Hill).
Mr Robert Bell (Mr Hill).
Mr R. Pratley (Mr Mercer)
Mr L. Shearman (Mr Mercer).
Mr G. Hornung (Mr Hill).
Mrs Andrew Burns. (Mr Hill).
Master W. W. Bowles (Mr Mercer).
Mr WV. Bowles, second flight (Mr Hill).
Mr W. Davis (Mr Mercer).
Mr C. Pearce (Mr Hill).
In addition to these passengers, several other trips were booked towards the close of the day with the secretary (Mr C. W: Hervey), and it is the intention of the company to give passenger flights by arrangement at mutually suitable times.
A stranger who flew the small solo machine very prettily during the afternoon was. Mr A. W. Morland, of Rakaia, a pupil of the school, who took his pilot’s ticket just before the armistice, and unfortunately was too late to embark for the front. Mr Morland, under a special arrangement with the company, which will be extended to all qualified pupils of the school, has engaged an aeroplane for an hour’s flying at a reduced rate, and yesterday he took fifteen minutes of his hour, flying with great confidence and banking very prettily.
STUNT FLYING.
The exhibitions of stunt flying by Mr Hill played most amusingly on the emotions of the multitude. The machine in which he flew was the “pup” of the establishment, a little 40 h.p. Midge, short in the wing spread, but quick to the pilot’s touch. A lane of people opened up, as the little machine taxied out of the crowd, and just to show what could be done Mr Hill took off in a comparatively few yards, and climbed until he had a couple of thousand feet below him. He took up a position towards the hills within easy viewing distance of the ’drome, and tried his mount out in a few switchback curves. Then he swung up on his wingtip and described a side-loop, the wing being at right angles to Mother Earth throughout the circuit.
Pulling out of one side-loop hm described a reverse circle, and then did a cartwheel, which consists of a short dive, a recovery, a standing upright on the tail, and a lazy side roll back into tlie horizontal. Mostly the spectators watched with beaming fascination for mere flying to half of them was still a nine days’ wonder, and as each swoop of the aeroplane offered a new-proof of man’s air mastery they gave themselves up to admiring comments and flattering remarks about the pilot and his machine.
Mr Hill climbed round towards the road, and executed a series of nose dives, in which his little machine pointed directly to earth, but the steady hand on the controls pulled the machine into the horizontal, and presently it was swooping down out of a cartwheel at the heads of the crowd.
Everybody made sure that Mr Hill was going to crash into the roof of the central hangar. Even the initiated thought he was cutting it rather fine, but he steered for the narrow gap between two of the hangars to give clearance for his undercarriage and as the machine skimmed, the heads of the crowd there was an involuntary cheer and hand-clapping, which the pilot acknowledged with a friendly wave.
A PRETTY LOOP.
A veritable loop varied the afternoon’s trick flying. Mr Hill dived with his engine in, swept up and up past the vertical, and had just sufficient way on to carry him over the top of the circle, with pilot and machine most palpably upside down. The only variation from the ideal loop was that the machine at the top of the circle-tilted over on one wing and had to be brought out in what might be called a sloping dive. This was due to lack of the horse-power necessary to carry the machine over the dead centre but the loop was complete.
Mr Hill varied his tricks with a pretty tail slide. This is brought about by “climbing” the machine until it loses flying speed, when it slides back on its tail. At one time this was a fatal feat, but in experienced hands nowadays the machine merely slips until the weight of the engine at the forward end, induces a reverse dive, and the pilot pulls her out flat with his horizontal controls.
Mr Hill’s efforts to entertain a crowd were never before so successful, and he was rewarded with very genuine outbursts of applause from the crowd, which surged towards his machine at every landing.
THE AIR RACE.
A very sensational event was the race between two 100 horse-power machines. piloted by Messrs. Hill and Mercer. Mr Hill had as passenger Mr Smith, and Mr Mercer’s passenger was Mr Bowles, whose wife had previously made a flight. The conditions were that the machines should leave the aerodrome simultaneously and fly as far as the fence on the boundary of the Show Grounds. There they were to turn outwards, and fly back to the aerodrome at not loss than 1000 ft, where they were to turn again and land to the central ring. The machines got away nicely, and although Mr Mercer had an infinitely heavier passenger, he climbed to a considerably greater altitude than Mr Hill. The machines were not easy to follow when they were over the Show Grounds, but as they turned the sun shone brightly on their wings. Mr Mercer was the first to turn, and had a distinct lead on Mr Hill on the return journey, but he overflew the aerodrome, whereas Mr Hill, with a sharper bank, swung his machine around quickly and swooped down to the mark, a narrow winner. Both pilots and their passengers wore heartily applauded as they returned to the hangars. The time for the return trip was a fraction under nine minutes.
