PIONEER FLYING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 6 October 1928, Page 6

PIONEER FLYING.

EFFORTS IN NEW ZEALAND. BAMBOO AND FABRIC “BIRD.” The humours and dangers which attended pioneering attempts a.t aviation in New Zealand were recalled by Mr P. R. Mimic, organiser of the Canterbury Progress League, and Mr D. Crazier, of the Canterbury Aero Club, who flew to Blenheim recently with Captain Findlay. Mr Olimio said about 1903 a- Christchurch resident, Mr Warburton, too-k out a patent for a set of wings, which lie believed wo-ukl enable a man to- fly like a bird. It was a weird contrivance- of fabric and bamboo. Mr Cliani-c was present when the inventor tried the machine. He strapped the wings to his shoulders and showed that the bird-like motion av&s imparted by moving the logs up and down. This actuated rods attached from his ankles- to the wings. When all -was ready ho stood out a low hummock, waiting for a favourable gust of wind. When it came ho -leaped into the air, -but. instead o-f soaring -like a bird, he fell violently to the ground. Nothing discouraged lie made another trial later, hut this time on the sand bills, where falling was easier. How ever, once again he fell. Mr Olimio said Mr Warburton was still -alive and in; about his 90th year. He was present at the' landing of the Cross cut Christchurch, when Mr Cl-imie introduced him to SquadronLeader Kingsford-Smith as one of New Zealand’s aerial pioneers. Mr Crozicr said in 1910 he bought at auction in Christchurch, for £6O, an “aeroplane” which had been imported from America. It never flew. However, much to the- interest of the community, he used to- take it out and taxi violently along the ground in an attempt to ‘take-off. Perhaps, fortunately for him, the machine always refused to leave the ground in flight, but lie found much exhilaration in hounding over the golf links.