PARACHUTE DESCENT

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 11349, 29 October 1930, Page 5

PARACHUTE DESCENT

DARING PERFORMER CARRIED HALF A AIILE AAV AY

SAFE LANDING-

The, lirst parachute descent in Gisborne for many years took place yesterday, the thrilling performance being watched by spectators even as far distant as town. Tho daring feat was staged by Commercial Airways, at Air Geo. Witters’ property, ‘‘Woodlands’’ Heaton, before a. lai'ge and (loopy-interested attendance. Prior to the ascent Flight-Lieut. Buckeridge- in his Sparum plane, conveyed several passengers for short trips aloft. Before the ascent, the • parachutist, Noah Jonassen, exhibited the parachute, which is made of silk and is 24ft. in diamet- » er. He also gave au interesting exyliibition showing how the parachute opened by the draught from the revolving ■ propeller of the plane. Shortly after 2-30 p.n>., "the. plane ascended. At al height of 3500 feet Jonassen leaped oil' from the wheel axle of the machine, while hundreds gazed anxiously, wondering whether the daring performer would bo dashed to death. All doubts were soon set at rest, fox - the parachutist was soon seen floating gracefully in tho sky. The wind carried Jonassen nearly half a mile away before ho landed, the plane in the meantime circling round tho parachutist. When Jonassen reached the ground lie waved cheerily to the aviator, who returned to “Woodlands” and a. few minutes later Jonassen, accompanied by a- hand of High School hoys, proudly conveying .tins parachute. made his appearance, being accorded a storm of applause. Chatting later to a Times reporter, Jonassen said there was nothing unusual in tho performance, everything going according to schedule, save that ho .had hoped to land nearer the starting point. Ho smilingly said that ho had every occasion to remember Gisborne for, on bis previous appearance here 23 years ago, his parachute perform-' mice was nob exactly a success..-On that occasion, ho was to jump fro in a balloon, which ascended 'from Victoria Domain. .Unfortunately*, Ifaweyer, when some 400 to t>oof t..... up, a, mishap occurred to tho balloon and it descended suddenly, with the .result that Jonassen- landed in a paddock between, Victoria, Domain and the. beach, and was removed to• hospital willn a. broken ankle,, broken ribs .and internal . injuries. ‘‘Hof-: ever”, ho remarked cheerfully,, “it’s all part of tho game and I soon recovered and am ■ now no • worse for my former unfortunate experience in. this : town.” .. ...