Successful Air Pageant

Extremely good luck with the weather, which was wet in the morning but cleared to bright sunshine in the afternoon, favoured the air pageant held at Darton Field aerodrome this month to celebrate the completion of the Gisborne Aero Club's new premises.

Funds from the pageant will help finance an air ambulance for the district.

Air Force-Army Co-operation was demonstrated at the pageant when Gisborne Army units, staging a mock attack and defence of the aerodrome, were given support from the air by a Bristol freighter of the RNZAF.

Army jeep and gun emerge from roomy interior of the Bristol

Gun goes into action

Smoke screen protects while six-pounder is readied

Flying low over the key point in aerodrome defence, the Bristol unloads supplies in parachute drop.

Army had to be on the mark to catch parachutes in strong wind.

Aerodrome defence in action

Gathering in one of the parachutes.

Two parachute jumps by Mr W. Nowells, of Palmerston North, were a feature of the afternoon.

Parachutist floating gently down to earth.

Bristol tail structure dwarfs technician

But it's not all that gentle when man and earth meet as is shown in these three sequence shots of a landing.

At conclusion of show, hundreds of those present inspected the Bristol.

Stunt by members of the Hawkes Bay Aero Club appeared to fly Moth by remote control apparatus on rear of this truck. Plane was made to do complicated aerobatics.

Moths drawn up in ranks made Darton Field look like an R.A.F. 'drome in the days of World War I.
Aero Club members came from all over the North Island for the pageant and subsequent opening of new headquarters of Gisborne Club.

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The Gisborne Photo News

No 70 : April 21, 1960

Successful Air Pageant