TERRIFYING FLIGHT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 163, 11 June 1929, Page 7

TERRIFYING FLIGHT.

’PLANE LOSES PILOT.

PASSENGER IN CHARGE.

(Australian Press Association.) . PARIS, June 10. Lieutenant Ivonnet, an officer who had never piloted an aeroplane in his life, had a terrifying experience at Le Bourget to-day. Lieutenant Sellier invited Lieutenant Ivonnet to fly with him to Chartres and there partake of luncheon. When returning from Chartres Lieutenant Sellier discovered that he could not land at Le Bourget owing to military regulations, so he flew about to pass the time away. A storm broke without warning and the aeroplane was thrown about in a horrible fashion. Suddenly Lieutenant Ivonnet saw Lieutenant Sellier shot out from his seat and disappear. Lieutenant Ivonnet was too excited to think of using the parachute strapped on his back. Instead he clasped the controls and found that he was able to manage. Ho tried to recall the things he had seen the pilot do and then headed for Le Bourget. Gradually he got the ’plane to make smaller circles. When it came down it nose-dived for the last few yards, but Lieutenant Ivonnet scrambled out alive, though the ’plane was ripped to pieces. Lieutenant Sellier landed safely by means of his parachute.