AT 200 M.P.H.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 305, 27 December 1939, Page 5

AT 200 M.P.H.

AERIAL WEDDING.

HITCH JUST AVOIDED.

'PLAJfE TIPPED ON NOSE.

MELBOURNE, December 21

A 'plane sensationally tipping on its nose on Essendon aerodrome as other 'planes were about to take off nearly caused a hitch in the arrangements for an aerial wedding.

Scores of the grounded guests in evening dress raced across the field to the upturned 'plane and the alarm siren screeched, but th& wedding party remained belted in their seats unaware of the mishap and puzzled at the delay.

The bride purposely was not told. At the first sign of the accident an aerodrome official slammed the doors of the 'planes and the hop-off was held up for several minutes while the accident 'plane was righted. It was feared that the party would be frightened at the sight.

"Isn't it terrible," cried the bride's mother, Mrs. Stewart, in the middle of confusion on the tarmac. "Please don't tell Eunice, it will frighten her."

Mrs. Stewart said that she was too nervous to attend the ceremony in the air.

The Ryan Monoplane involved in the accident was being taxied into the wind,' before taking off, by its owner, F. Watkins, Jun., a well-known Melbourne pilot, when a wheel sunk into a rut and the 'plane stood up on ite propeller.

The Flying Church

The aerodrome fire tender was beside the 'plane before Watkins and his passenger had climbed out of their seats, but the only damage was a smashed pro-! peller. I

The wedding 'planes took off at 7.20 p.m. and when they returned in half an hour, Miss Eunice Stewart and Mr. R.

Carter, of Werrrbee, had been married,' The ceremony took place at 200 miles per hour.

It was Australia's first large scale aerial wedding.

Four pilots, three 'planes, a clergyman, a best man, seven bridesmaids, six groomsmen and the bride's eldest brother, who gave her away, -were concerned in the wedding.

I The "flying church" was a 10-pas-senger Lockheed Eleetra, of Ansett Airways. Main members of the party flew in the liner, while others of the group i occupied an eight-seater S.P. Envoy and a four-seater Wilgul. i Bride's Unhappy Moment. The three 'planes flew in formation over the wedding guests on the tarmac. As soon as the liner was steady in the air the marriage service was commenced by the minister, the Rev. H. C. Trebilco, of Elsternwick. The bride's veil stretched the length of the 'plane between the guests.

There was a tense moment after the) bride had received the ring on her finger,! wfcen she turned to the wedding party, looking a little wan, and said, "HaJ anybody any chewing gum?" J

The whole party had been chewing j gum lustily throughout the ceremony to! prevent air-sickness, but a feverish hunt through pockets failed to produce a spare.

"The Sunday Sun's" special photographer, who was the only Pressman on the wedding 'plane, saved the day by bringing to light the required sweet. The ceremony wen- on.

Before the 'plane came to earth the registry was signed by all parties. A guard of honour of 20 members of the 2nd A.I.F. Reserve, who were at the aerodrome as a security guard, lined the path on the tarmac.