FRUSTRATED

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 May 1939, Page 5

FRUSTRATED

ATTEMPT TO STEAL PLANE

SYDNEY, May 2.

An attempt by a young man to take off in a Gipsy Moth plane which he had taken out of a hangar at. the Archerfield (Queensland) Aerodrome Avas frustrated by a pilot and mechanic of the Aircraft Pty., Ltd. The engine of the plane cut out Avhile the man, Avho had not previously flown a plane, was taxiing across the field. It Avas found subsequently that if he. had managed to take off he Avould not have been able to land safely, as the joystick in the front cockpit was jammed by a tin trunk and, Avith the machine set at a dual control, this meant that both joysticks were jammed. The joysticks Avere so placed that it would have been possible for him to have got the machine into the air.

The man later told detectives that the only flying experience he had had was on a 20 minutes' taxi flight, but he was satisfied he could pilot the plane. He had read a book on flying. He had intended to fly to Ipsv.'ich. but did not knoAA’ where he Avould have gone after that.

The man had Avith him in the cockpit a roughly-fashioned cardboard disc, showing the times in various parts of the world in relation to GreeiiAVich mean time, and radio and electrical equipment and a huge radio valve in a. trunk containing clothing. After the engine cut out. the man made an attempt, to take off, but was intercepted by Mr. R. Logan, a, mechanic of Aircraft Pty.. Ltd., and the chief pilot of that company. Mr. B. Munro, who detained him until the arriA r al of the police. The man was charged with having attempted to steal the plane.