HUGE PLANE’S COLLAPSE.

Grey River Argus, 23 September 1926, Page 5

HUGE PLANE’S COLLAPSE.

AT START OF FLIGHT From New to Paris. ’A MYSTERIOUS DISASTER. (Reuter.) NEW YORK, September 21. Rene Fonck’s lung heralded attempt Ito lly with three companions from Mw York tu i’aris, was started amid the acclaim of a thousand people, audl ended thr((c minutes lat<r with the plane in flames and two of the crew • dead. I The ’plane weighed over 25,0601"bs loaded, and was valued al 100,1)00,009 I dollars without motors. .11 is a total loss. The plane was Built by Igor Hiker sky. a Russian plane builder, who made the machine as the climax of his caCharles Clavier, of Frame, radio operator, and James Islamoff. Russian mechanic were burned to death when the running gear gave way, and the plane plunged into a gnlly. TWO WONDERFUL ESCAPES. Fonek and his second in command, I Lieutenant Curtin, miraculously escaped uninjured, but the bodies of Clavier and Islamoff were found in the ruins • partly buried in the ashes of the co&kjpit, side by side. THE START. There was some delay in getting ready for the start, but soon after six a.m. Fonek and ’’urtin climbed into the plane, joining Clavier, who was at his radio set, and Islamoff, who was already giving the engines a final inspection. Fonek took the controls. C’irtin being beside him. 'fhc engine speeded Dp slowly, and moved down the field

amid cheers. 'Die men could be seen bending to their work. 'Die engine was given more speed but still the plane failed to answer. Finally, U lifted from the ground and settled back again. It came up about .four feet, but could not maintain it and dropped. Tin* plane was off the ground four or five feet, when tlier n was a sudden muffled explosion. not sufficiently violent to be recognised as anything serious by tie spectators, un til the plane careered at a giddy angle and fell into th • gully. As it fell Curtin and Fonek were seen to bo thrown clear, but there was no trace of Clafvier and Islamoff. The plane had tirr’ ’lv struck the ground when smoke poured forth, and tongues of flame leaped up. H was soon apparent that it would probably be a total loss, and it was certain Clavier ami Islamoff could not escape. The crowd surged down the field but could not approach nearer than a few hundred yards because the tanks contained 2,400 gallons of petrol which was liable to explode at any minute. A few ventured closer to determine whether Clavier and Islamoff could be saved, but. they were forced to draw back. A PREMONITION. Fonek was unable to explain how he and Curtin saved their lives. He said: ••! do not know why. but 1 could sense a catastrophe. Wo crawled out on the nose of the plane. Tho motors were still running and how we got oil tho plane to the ground without being cut to pieces by the propellers is more than I know.” CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE. Later Fonek stated that he nttribu-i ted the accident to troubles with the auxiliary landing gear. He said: 1 noticed ' this had given when we hit| with a bump. The right wheel went in an oblique angle. I could feel it had torn the left, rudder loose. At first I tried to slow up, but then 1 know it was useless to do that, because th" gullv was so close, so I opened her up

again, hoping to get into the air, nui I could not do it. and we smashed.” BURNS FOR AN HOUR. It was over rm hour before th" Hames died down sufficiently to enable the firemen to extinguish the remain def of the outbreak, examine the plane and discover Hie bodies. Lines wore drawn to keep back the crowd which became hysteiic.il, no 'men shrieking as the plane crashed, men running towards the spot. It was fifteen minutes before any semblance of order was restored. The llesh was burned from the nones in places, nnd the bodies were almost I unrecognisable. Apparently, the dooi of the cockpit .jammed as the plane struck, anil the men were trapped ant forced to die an agonising death. Both Curtin and Fonek were lust dazed, but soon were able to widx to ail automobile which caiiicd 111 from tho field. They appeared anxious to leave and avoid witnessing th, death of their companions. When the automobile passed . IK<» sky’s plant, Igor Sikorsky, Russian aeroplane builder, who made the construction of Fonck’s plane the climy „f l,is career, was sobbing pitifullyCurtin and Fonek were sufficiently decovered io offer him comfort. Officials and the builders the bikor<kv Engineering Aerial Corporation. , i -ill i.-Irticinants from blame, exonerated all parm „4f n ninl 1t is indicated that another attempt will be made. COBHAM'S FLIGHT. CALCUTTA, September 21. Cobham has loft for Allahabad. ■ ' DELHI, September 21. Cobham has arrived at Allahabad.