Parachute and Flying Displays at Milson

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 14, 18 January 1937, Page 8

Parachute and Flying Displays at Milson

■YESTERDAY’S PROGRAMME ATTRACTED 2000 SPECTATORS. There was an attendance of between two and three thousand spectators au Milson aerodrome yesterday to witness tho display of aerobatics by pilots from the Manawatu Aero Club and the para-chute-jumping Dy tho New Zealand expert, Mr. G. W 7. Sellars. The programme was put through accoruTng to schedule and a number of- people took the opportunity of going for a “flip,” ’planes being available for that purpose. Parachutist “Sand-bagged” at Otaki. Mr. Sellars was at Otaki on Satuxday, where he was the star performer at the Otaki beach carnival. His experience, however, when landing, ufter jumping from a thousand feet, wifi, be ono that he will. not wish to repeat. There, was. a very strong wind blowing, for which duo allowance was made by the pilot of the ’plane, Flying officer E. Harvie, and Mr. Sellars, before he “stepped into space,” but Mr. Sellars had pulled the cord opening the parachute, the “brolly*’- was carried up the beach in a northerly direction and Air. Sellars was thrown violently against the vertical face of a sandhill. From that moment Mr. Sellars ceased to take interest in the proceedings, having been knocked completely out by tho impact. When ho did regain consciousness he was surprised to find himself in bed, and to find a doctor and a representative of the police standing by the bedside. He had been “out to the world” for about two hours and the last he could remember about the parachute jump wae the approach of a sandhill which was to deliver the “K. 0.” Apart from a headache, Air. Sellars suffered no ill-effects, and he was able to go through with his part of yesterday’s programme at Milson.