AVIATION

Otago Witness, Issue 3614, 19 June 1923, Page 21

AVIATION

A CLOSE CALL. LONDON, June 2. Two Army officers had a miraculous escape at Westbury (Wilts). The pilot was flying low, seeking to land, when he demolished a chimney. He attempted to descend on a meadow, but was prevented by frightened cattle galloping about, and just missed some railway metals as an express tore past. He then struck a fence and crashed into a pond holding 10ft of water. Both officers were strapped to their seats, and were rescued when on the point of drowning. CRASH OF A SIGNWPJTER. PARIS, June 12. Bernard, a well-known aerial signwriter, was writing the name of a Lyons silk merchant, when his aeroplane skidded in mid-air and crashed to the ground, owing to Bernard having difficulty in doing the letter “I.” Bernard was sent to hospital in a serious condition. AIRMAN BURNT TO DEATH. PARIS, June 13. A military airman who was taking part in a sham bombing raid at Nancy met with a terrible death owing to his machine being set on fire in the air by one of ite own bombs. 'The plane carried a number of light bombs attached to parachutes, which were used to light up the targets before the explosive was dropped. These were fitted with screws, which fired a fuse, thus freeing the parachutes. One of these screws was set in motion, apparently by the action of the air. The aero-

plane lost its equilibrium, caugfit fire, and plunged to the earth in flames. The pilot was burnt to death; but the bomber, with hie clothes ablaze, leaped from the aeroplane before it crashed. Lb was severely burned, but it is hoped that his desperate leap has saved his life. SMALL-POWERED MONOPLANE. LONDON, June 16. A tiny monoplane named the Wren fitted with a three-horse power engine, attained a speed of 53 miles an hour during an Air Ministry test at Lytham, Lancashire. It also climbed to an altitude of 2350 ft—a record for this class of machine. Although it was in the air 80 minutes, less than a gallon of petrol, at a price of 2s, was consumed. June 15. The Daily Chronicle's aeronautical correspondent says that tiny cars, with wings capable of whirling the owner and driver at the speed of an express train, with only as much power as is required by a motor cycle, have reached such a practical stage that numbers of orders are being booked. It will be possible to house them in ordinary motor garages or even, as an expert suggests, in the chicken run. Motor garage proprietors will be asked to provide smooth-surfaced landing fields marked so as to be seen from above. SUCCESSFUL MANOEUVRES. PARIS, June 15. The French inventor Oemichen made three flights in his helicopter, carrying two passengers. The longest flight lasted nine Ininutes. The maximum height reached was five metres, and the minimum two metres. The machine is now regarded as capable of completing a circular kilometre. FRENCH AERIAL SERVICE. , LONDON, June 15. The Daily Chronicle’s aeronautical corre spondent says that a great aerial scheme will shortly be submitted to the French Parliament whereby the naval air service will be increased from the present few squadrons to 1500 naval aircraft, with two great air bases at Dunkirk and Cherbourg ; while by 1925 the military planes in commission will number 2000, with reserves of 5000 more.