THRILLS IN THE AIR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22499, 17 August 1936, Page 11

THRILLS IN THE AIR

DISPLAY AT MANGERE LONG PARACHUTE DESCENT A parachute descent from a height of nearly 6000 ft., which is claimed to be the record altitude in New Zealand, was one of many attractions of an aerial display at the Mangere aerodrome on Saturday afternoon. The conditions were excellent, and the crowd was estimated at 3000. Under the control of the Auckland Aero Club's instructor, Flight-Lieut. I). M. Allan, an aeroplane was made to perform seemingly impossible evolutions. It looped, rolled and spun over in "flicks," swooped earthward at great speed, and rose almost vertically to stalling point, was flown upside down and side-slipped in perfect landings that thrilled the spectators. A particularly clever demonstration of a machine crashing to earth after being disabled in aerial combat, was given b.y the instructor. In the course of a mock battle with another machine, he put his aeroplane into a noso spin and, coming headlong to the aerodrome, disappeared behind the banks of the Pukaki Creek, to create tho impression of a crash.

Tho "bombing" of a motor-car from an aeroplane was also staged. As tho car swerved and dodged over tho ground it was pursued by the instructor's machine, which swooped to within a few feet of the ground. Tho pilot hurled "bombs" consisting of bags of flour. A number of direct hits were registered. Skilful piloting was witnessed when a number of toy balloons were released in mid-air. They were chased and burst by tho machine's propeller. Two parachute descents wero made by Mr. G. W. Sellars, his first drop ' being from about 2000 ft. His second jump, from a height of 5812 ft., necessitated a take-oft' at a point over one and a-lialf miles from the aerodrome. In the course of his descent, Mr. Sellars opened his second parachute and descended for some? distance suspended from both parachutes. Bj" clever manoeuvring, he made a perfect landing on the eastern side of the ground.