Levin monoplane pioneer Martin Butler dies in P.N.
He was Martin Ronald (Jack) Butler; 60, of Taita, and formerly of Levin.
Mr Butler became ill while attending St Joseph's Parish and Convent School golden jubilee celebrations in Levin on Saturday.
He held a trial of his plane at Waitarere Beach on July 14, 1932.
A report in the Levin Chronicle said the plane was of smart appearance. Just as he sped up the engine, the gasket blew out and a flood of water through the carburetor brought the engine to a standstill. This caused delay but after a short flight he made a fine landing and repeated the process.
The monoplane, with a wing spread of 28 feet and a 40 horsepower engine with 2000 revolutions a minute took Mr Butler two years of work in his spare time to build.
Mr Butler is survived by his wife and three children. - N.Z.P.A.
