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Aviation History
1928
1928 - 0139.PDF
FEBRUARY 23, 1928 PRIVATE FLYING A Section of FLIGHT in the Interests of the Private Owner, Owner-Pilot, and Gnb Member FLYING CLUBS OF SOUTH AFRICA The Port Elizabeth Club ON January 5 Lady Heath left Cape Town for Port Elizabeth with Major Miller. The first stage to Mossel Bay was covered before breakfast in 2£ hours under ideal conditions. Port Elizabeth was next reached in 2\ hours, after a flight of 220 miles along the coast. The aerodrome there is con- veniently situated close to the town, and is owned by the municipality. There is a very progressive light aeroplane club, and although it was only formed last July with only twenty members it now has over two hundred. It uses a Westland " Widgeon," and has a hangar capable of accom- modating three machines. Considerable assistance in its formation was given by Mr. B. Smulian, who was also con- nected with the establishment and progress of the Johannes- burg Club. His method of formation is to obtain donations and issue debentures. Major Miller was also partly respon- sible, as in similar movements. He flew his D.H. " Moth," and made funds by taking up passengers. Lady Heath says that the " Widgeon," with its high speed and large carrying capacity will be found very useful for the great distances in that country. Sufficient capital is possessed by Port Elizabeth to provide for another machine, but it awaits further develop- ment before making this addition. The Club's instructor, Capt. Swann, gives his services voluntarily. He is a very experienced pilot. The ground engineer, Mr. White, also acts in a voluntary capacity. The Mayor of Port Elizabeth is Vice-President, and it is on account of the special local support granted it that the Club keeps the flying charges down to £1 per hour for both dual and solo flying. On their arrival at the aerodrome the air visitors were met by the Club Committee and the Mayor. Lady Heath's passenger was Mr. C. H. Mayers, who recently motored from the Cape to Nairobi in 23 days. He was given a little instruction in flying, to which he was new, during the flight. A lantern lecture was given in the Town Hall, at which Sir William Mclntosh was Chairman, whilst after the lecture Major Miller spoke of the growth of Civil Aviation. The latter's two D.H. " Moths " and Lady Heath's Avro " Avian " were actively engaged at joy-riding on January 7. Port Elizabeth is a very windy place, and the use of goggles wasfound convenient when on the ground to protect the eyes from the flying sand. The charges per flight were £\. TheClub members worked hard at catching the machines as they landed. Lady Heath found that the broad undercarriage ofher " Avian " made landing even in those conditions very safe and easy. The machine gave no suggestion of tippingover. The Westland " Widgeon " was formally presented to theclub by the Mayor one afternoon and the instructor gave flights to many passengers. Then followed a race of ten milesover a triangular course, the two " Moths " starting together, the " Avian " following after ten seconds and the " Widgeon "thirty seconds later. Flying low in the high wind made things rather uncomfortable. The " Avian " won by a small marginfrom Major Miller's " Moth," and the " Widgeon," flown by the instructor, fought a neck-to-neck race for third placewith the other " Moth." An exhibition of stunting was then given by Major Miller and the rest of the afternoon wasdevoted to joy-riding. There are a number of ex-war pilots in Port Elizabeth whohave become very keen on flying again and it is rumoured that a number of orders for private aeroplanes will be lodgedshortly. There are many lady members and it will probably not be long before the Club produces one or two as pilots.Local disappointment is felt because the Royal Air Force machines, which are making their Service flight to the Capein March, are not scheduled to land at Port Elizabeth. Efforts are being made to have them do so. The Tour Continues The visitors left Port Elizabeth for East London after their visit with the intention of landing at Port Alfred, 120 miles away, to pick up Mr. Lomax, who had been giving joy-rides there in Major Miller's D.H. " Moth." They were told that the aerodrome wras about three miles outside the town, but it could not be located. It was learned afterwards that the Mayor waited to give them a civic welcome and the native With the South African Clubs : Lady Heath per- forming the christening cere- mony of the Port Elizabeth Club's machine, the Westland " Widgeon." It was christened "The Lady Heath." The Lord Mayor of the town is seen third from the left. 119
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