WEMBLEY’S PLEASURE PARK.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19018, 14 November 1923, Page 9

WEMBLEY’S PLEASURE PARK.

ATTRACTIONS AT NEXT YEAR’S EXHIBITION. Two racing coasters, a giant switch-back a scenic railway, two water rides, and j number of safety air gliders are to bi among the attractions in the Amusement Park at the British Empire Exhibition a Wembley next year. Wneu the Exhibitioi opens in April it will be able to boast o having one of the best equipped amuse nitnts parks in tho world. Forty-seVer acres are to be devoted to it. which is mon than three times the amount of grount covered by tho largest amusements psrl at present in existence in the United King dorn. It will be the last word in sen sations, for tho entire world is being searched for novelties and attractions. Not until it is too late for its content to be copied will the full story of tfa« amusements section of the Exhibition b< made known. It is possible, however, tc give some indication of the main features At one end of the grounds the two racing coasters will race each other along a coursi of over a mile, their speed depending oi the exertions of their occupants. At th« other end tlie scenic railway, one of the largest in the world, will be installed side by side with the giant switch-back, whicl again gives a run of over a mile and i; larger than anything of its kind previously seen in this country. Underneath then the wafer rides wilt take the; visitor througi a series of enchanted caves, and he veil have the choice of .travelling in a boa or a tub. A water chute from a towei 80ft high is promised, but how it is to be worked must remain a secret. Visitors will also be able to enjoy al the thrills of flying without expenencinj any of its dangers. This is to be achieved oi "The Glyda.” a “captive monoplane” in vented by Air Thomas Heffernan, whicl will be one of the big attractions in the amusements park. Two pairs of sub stantiaily built towers, 75ft. nigh, will face each other at a distance of 400 ft. Betwoei (hem is the "Glyda” course. Each pan of towers is connected by a bridge capable of holding 300 passengers Ten cables wil be hung like slack wires between the two bridges. These will provide the ihitig impetus for the captive aeroplanes. The "Glyda” itself consists of a pair of wing; and a “fusitage” for passengers, and runs nn a frictionless pulley. By the aid o this pulley tho "Glyda” is able to spect down its cable, rise into the air and clinil graoefuly and easily io the opposite bridge. There) it is taken in hand by the attend ants who are waiting to despatch it on its return journey. For a considerable length of the distance travelled the “Glyda” flies through the air unsupported, and it thus answers for a brief span all the purposes Of a real aeroplane in flight. Throughout the journey the “Glvda” can, under no circumstances, break loose from the cable hv which it is guided, and to which it fa permanently attached. The fusilage of the machine contains two comfortable seat* placed side by side, and immediately m front there is ample room for a child. For the rest the machine i» of the lightest construction, combined with great strength, and has a carrying capacity of over a ton. The authorities at the Air Ministry have seen _ this remarkable machine in action, and it is to be used to speed up the’ training of pilots in the Royal Air Force. Sir Samuel Hoare looks upon the "Glyda” as a fine means of introducing the “flying sense” to (be people, and believes it will play a great part in the popularisation cf aeronautics. After sampling the various riding devices the visitor can visit a theatre, a dancing hall twice the size of tho Albert Hall, or an aquarium 150 ft by 75tt, m which will be shown all tho queerest of queer fish known to Neptune. Macfisherips (Ltd.) are at present ransacking the ocean with their fleet of trawlers for material witi which to stock the anuarium, and they have already built a special station in Cornwall in which t 6 acclimatise them. A miniature railway—l2oo yards long—will enable the visitor to get quickly from one end pf the grounds to the other. It.in itself, will be an object of interest, for it has to cross a stream, tunnel under a full-sized railway, ana is provided with four stations of its own. Restaurants there will be, and tea rooms. The Amusements Park, in fact, will bo a complete Exhibition in itself.