ON SILVER WINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 272, 16 November 1929, Page 2 (Supplement)

ON SILVER WINGS.

TWO MORE BUDGETITES -FLY. ■ "A WONDERFUL RIDE." Since the publication of Alfred Anslcy's letter, describing his flight over Wanganui, two letters have been received from Budget readers who have had the thrill of riding in an aeroplane. All will agree that Fred McKeever is a. very lucky boy, for he has been up on two occasions. The first letter, appearing below is from Vivienne Foot, Jordan Road, Hikurangi; the second is from Fred McKeever, Haslett St., Onehunga. "I read to-day about one of our Budgetites who has had the thrill of riding in that most graceful bird, the aeroplane. I envy him, as well I might, for I enjoyed a similar thrill in Whangarei during the last May holidays, when I went for a ride in a Moth plane. "It was thrilling, arid even if it had been absolutely necessary I am sure that I couldn't have been afraid, dizzy or eick. Fear would have "been much out of place, and who could be sick o.r dizzy simply because they are enjoying themselves? Not I, anyway! "I have been dreaming, dreaming and dreaming, well, dreaming that I should have a plane of my own, my very very own, in which to live up in the air in close relationship to the birds and clouds, and heed nothing but the whirr of my machine and race the whole world round, ( But dreams will be dreams, and they never come true! "The ride was wonderful. We.flew over the High School and over the harbour, in fact, we flew over nearly every square yard of Whangarei in ten minutes, But fancy being called a brave girl, simply because I waved when I was going up, and again when J was high up!" * # * » * "I read in the Budget of Saturday, October 26, a letter from Alfred Ansley, <of Wanganui, who told you of his first flight in an aeroplane, He hopes to claim the distinction of being the first Budgetite to fly, but I think I may claim that from him, although someone may claim it from me. "On May 12 I had a flight in one of the Auckland Aerp ojub's planes. Major Cowper, who is mentioned in the letter, also took me up, and I felt as safe as if I was on the ground, because I know he is a very clever pilot, and has had many years of experience in flying. I second all the good points mentioned of the flight in Alfred Ansley's letter, and I can quite safely say that it was the greatest experience in my life. "Again, on October 13, I was tpken up. but this time in the club's new Moth. Lieutenant Keith piloted the plane for this flight, and I felt quite safe with him, too." , 4 UNCLE SAM AND JOHN BULL The other day I came across the origin of the word "Yankee" as applied to our American friends, and I thought you might be interested to hear it. No war days we use the word in a jesting sense, but it is really an interesting reminder of Uncle Sam's near relationship to John Bull. The first settlers in New England were nearly all emigrants from Old London Town. Apparently they had the Cockney twang even in those days, and also the Cockney's pride 1 of race. For they exclusively styled themselves the English. The Indians sought to alter the word and their version of it gave }t a sound like Yaunghees. You can see how easily this would come to be corrupted into the word y?e use to-day— Yankees.