A THRILLING FEAT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19349, 9 December 1924, Page 4

A THRILLING FEAT.

RIDING ON THE WING OF AN AEROPLANE. A thrilling feat in mid-air was accomplished recently, when, a mechanic on a big Goliath air express, bound from Croydon to Paris, rode for more than 45 minutes on the wing of the machine (states the Daily Chronicle). W 7 hen the aeroplane was over Tunbridge Wells it was discovered that a pipe had broken, thus cutting off the supply of petrol to the engine. Although the ’plane was some thousand feet up at the time, and travelling at a- high speed, a mechanic named Richard pluekily climbed out on to the wing. Lying at full length, and in imminent danger of being thrown off, he tried to mend the broken pipe with wire. Not being successful he held the ends of the broken pipe together until Lymburn Aerodrome was sighted some 45 minutes later and a safe landing made. While he was out on the wing the mechanic wa‘s in full view of the eignt passengers in the cabin, but they had little knowledge of what was happening. The unexpected landing was made at Lympne in full view of the spectators assembled there to witness light aeroplane trials.