Aviation History.

How Pari Aerodrome Was Established.

These four pictures, kindly supplied by Captain P. H. Moody, the well-known airman, contain aeroplane history.

The top picture, according to Captain Moody, shows “the first aeroplane to fly

in New Guinea.” Captain Moody, in 1928, assembled this Ryan monoplane (“Oiseau des Tropiques”) on Ela Beach, Port Moresby, and later flew it over to the new Pari aerodrome, six miles away.

Ultimately, it was flown to Lae. Photo, shows the monoplane on Ela Beach.

In 1928, Captain Moody suggested to the Lieut.-Governor (Sir Hubert Mur ray) that a landing-ground be cleared at Pari. Sir Hubert agreed at once, and 50 natives were put on to do the work — the men chopping and grubbing, and the Marys cutting the grass. The second

photo, shows the commencement of operations on what is now the Pari aero drome. The women are in the fore ground and, at the back, is a line of axemen.

The third photograph shows the mono plane just after it had arrived on the newly-cleared Pari field, with all the na tive workers clustered around it.

The fourth photograph is one of the first white woman to reside at the Lae aerodrome —Mrs. P. H. Moody and her house staff.