THE-FLYING MEN

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7018, 5 January 1910, Page 9

THE-FLYING MEN

NEW ZEALANDER'S IMPRESSIONS OF AVIATION WEEK. “MOST WONDERFUL.’' “It avbs far and away the most interesting and Avondorful experience of •an interesting trip,” said Mr W. Crichton yesterday Avhon describing lo a “New Zealand Times” reporter a visit he paid to Blackpool during "aviation avcclc” Avhilo at- Homo last year. . Mr Crichton only got back yesterday, returning by the Sydney steamer. ‘ Tho sight of the flying machines m the air, he said, avu-s a most impressive one, AAdiile- -the. easo AA’ith Avliidi they were manoeuvred Avas A’ery striking' indeed. All the same he found ■that the art Avas not. quite as far advanced as ho had been led to believe from the descriptions and reports which, ho had road, i Fob instance, the atmospheric conditions had to be very' favourable before a flight oould be made at all, and anything like a Wellington zephyr AA-ould be quite fatal to success. For all that, the display at Blackpool was something* very much worth seeing. Mr Crichton Avas much struck when he Avitnessed Farmau’s famous long flight of thirty-nine miles round the amphitheatre AA'hidhyvas tho scene of tho contests. It tyas a rery. Avonderful sight altogether. He also saAv Pauli mu, Latham, Lo Blanc, Rougier and seA’cral others, and remembered Avcdl the intense enthusiasm aroused -among the spectators, as the big machines circled above their heads. Usually' the flights Avcre made at a height of about 40 or 50 feet, though mi occasion the machines rose to about 250 feet or higher. •'This meant that the aviators could be distinctly seen all the AA-hile. Avhile in any ease attention Avould he drawn to them by tho loud buzzing sound mode by the motors, ,- Most marvellous, hoAveVer, at as it to see the manner in Avhich the machines were able to turn corners, tilting over at an angle and sweeping round just like great birds. The Latham and Bleriot machines particularly g-u r o the impression of a bird flight-. 1 The lilt-; ter pleasured about 30 feet from tip' to tip of its AA’iugs and AVaS about 28feet long. The Latham machine Avas; much 1 bigger all round.-' Mr Crichton’ also . took the 'opportunity; of inspecting the aeroplane exhibition in London and sbav there the' machine in which Bleriot made his historic crossChannel flight.