Cranbrook Airport

SOUTHERN AIR ROUTE SURVEY PLANES LANDED HERE TODAY – Zero Weather No Deterrent To Exploration By Aviators of Dept. of National Defense. – Flight From High River, Alberta, Will Be Continued To The Coast; Ships Made Good Landing On Crusted Snow.

            Carrying on a survey of the proposed southern air mail route across Alberta and British Columbia, Major J.H. Tudhope, Capt. A.A. Leitch, High River airdrome commandant, Sergt. A.A. Anderson, pilot, and G.M. Gardner, mechanic, flying from High River in two Moth planes, came down on the local landing field at 1 p.m. today after an air voyage of two hours.

            The department of national defense aviators were greeted on arrival by board of trade representatives.  They laughed when asked if cold weather was a deterrent to flying, returning an emphatic no to the question.

            Major Tudhope, well known to board of trade members here, stated that the trans-provincial flight is to be regarded in the light of collecting data in connection with air mail routes, and gave out intention of th department to carry the survey through to the coast.  He, with his mechanic, G.M. Gardner, will probably hop off for Grand Forks tomorrow or Saturday.  Captain Leitch and Sergeant Anderson will return to High River.  On Tuesday, the aviators said a flight was made to Fernie’s new aviation field on which they had no difficulty in landing in their ski-equipped planes.  The Fernie field is well adapted for aviation purposes, they stated.

Local Field City Property

            Coincidental with arrival of the aviators, Cranbrook Board of Trade made a final payment on the local airport site north of town, and a deed to the property in blank will be handed to the city council tonight by W.R. Grubbe, board president.  Last year, it will be remembered, the board agreed to hand over the airport on stipulation that the city foot the cost of detouring the power line which crosses the site at the north end, a proposal to which the East Kootenay Power Company gave assent.  In all probability the work of removing the line to increase gliding distance for planes approaching the field from the north will be undertaken this spring.