More Info →Death of man who built plane in Levin

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He was Martin Ronald (Jack) Butler, aged 60, of Taita, and formerly of Levin. He was attending the golden jubilee celebrations of St Joseph's Parish and Convent School.

Mr Butler was married to Joan, daughter of the late Mr and Mrs Harry George, well-­known residents in their time.

He was also noted for a monoplane that he built in 1932.

According to "The Chroni­cle" files of July 15, 1932, Mr Butler held a trial of his plane at Waitarere Beach on July 14. It stated that "the 'plane was of smart appear­ance and when the engine was started at 2pm everyone felt confident that success would attend the efforts of the young engineer-aviator.

"Just as he sped up the engine, the gasket blew out and a flood of water through the carburettor brought the engine to a standstill. Although this caused considerable delay it was fortunate that the weakness was manifest before the 'plane took off.

"At 4pm the 'plane took off. As this was only a trial it was lot Mr Butler's intention to make for altitude, and after a very fine landing he took off again.

"A perfect landing was then made on the second occasion and the machine taxied back along the sand where, a few hours ago, it had been brought in a motor truck in sections and had been assembled there.

"The monoplane, with a wing spread of 28 feet and a 40 horse-power motor with 200 revolutions a minute, had taken Mr Butler two years of work in his spare time to build."

Mr Butler is survived by his widow, one son Martin (Mt Isa, Australia) and two daughters (Mrs K. Gilberd, Porirua) and Miss Joan-Maria Butler.

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