CYLINDERS BURST AT 36,000 FEET.
AVIATOR'S TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE,
SAFE LANDING ACCOMPLISHED.
(by cable—pbess association- -coptbioht). (australia* and it.z. cablb association.)
(Received July 25th, 7.45 p.m.-)
WASHINGTON, July 25.
Lieutenant Champion ascended 48,000 feet in a Wright-Apache biplane, establishing an unofficial altitude record, after which he had descended to 36,000 feet, when seven of his nine cylinders blew out. Their heads ripped holes in the wings and knocked the oxygen tube from Champion's mouth. The piston rods flew backwards and shattered the wings, endangering his life. Champion fell "like a bat out of hell," as he said afterwards. He was powerless and only able to volplane. He landed safely on a two acre patch. His sealed barographs were undamaged, and were held pending calibration by the Bureau of Standards. Experts declared that the safe descent was miraculous. The aeroplane was completely frosted over.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19270727.2.80
Bibliographic details
Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19063, 27 July 1927, Page 9
Word Count
142CYLINDERS BURST AT 36,000 FEET. Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19063, 27 July 1927, Page 9
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.
Log in