FLYING FEAT BY ACCIDENT

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 242, 9 July 1938, Page 3 (Supplement)

FLYING FEAT BY ACCIDENT

Too Fat To Leap For Life

A London test pilot, as well-known for his size as for his flying ability, was asked to test, a new type warplane for the Royal Air Force. The usual stunts over, he pointed the plane’s nose skyward, climbed till the machine looked a speck against the sky. The note of the engine rose. The plane came roaring down out of the clouds in a power dive. That is the most vital test of a machine’s strength. If it holds together pointed straight at the earth with the throttle opened wide it is passed as Al.

Suddenly the watchers stiffened. There wa s a tearing bang, a flutter of fabric in the sky. The plane started spinning, out of control.

The wing covering had 'torn away in the .dive.

Every one expected to see the door open and the pilot jump, his parachute opening out behind him. He didn’t appear. Though they thought he must have been injured and couldn’t get out, there was nothing they could do —except look. Suddenly the airplane came out of its spin. Slowly, shakily, they saw it come again into con trot With incredible skill the pilot was bringing it to a landing. As it bumped down on the airfield officials rushed forward to congratulate the pilot, and asked him why he didn’t jump. “It was like this,” said the large man who climbed to the ground, “I couldn’t get back to the door, and when I tried the emergency exit I found I was too fat to get through it. So I had to land the thing, anyway."