AVIATION.

Southland Times, Issue 14378, 26 March 1910, Page 5

AVIATION.

SEE SCHOOL AT CHALONS,

By Telegraph.—Press t Association.—Copyright.

PARIS, March 24. There are 500 pupils in the aviation school at Chalons.

LIKE A BZ3SB,

SUCCESSFUL AERIAL FLIGHTS.

BY HOUDINI THE HAND-CUFF KING.

MELBOURNE, March 18.

Successful aerial • flights were accomplished this morning at Diggers’ Rest by Houdihi, the “Handcuff King,” who has been making experiments in that direction for some time.

Three flights were made, in the presence of a group of interested spectators, who have subscribed their names to the statement, so that the achievement may not be challenged. Houdini owns a flying machine of his own, and for the past five weeks has beew assiduously practising with it in a paddock a mile square on ;the property of Mr Cook, who farms in the Diggers’ Rest district.

The machine is a Voisin biplane, weighing 14001b., with its pilot. It is driven by a patrol engine weighing 2401b and of 60-80 h.p., with a pulling capacity •of 4001b.

This morning Houdinl reached the paddock from Melbourne by motor-car at 5 o’clock. Six of the gentlemen present hung on to the bi-plane, while the engine was started, and it dragged them some distance, thus proving its great power. Houdinl climbed into the pilotseat and act the machinery in motion. At first the engine snorted and roared, creating a perfect pandemonium of sound as the whirling aluminium propeller cleft the breeze. Then it careered along the ground for a distance of 50 yards. Suddenly it jerked to the left and made straight for the trunk of a tree. The daring pilot placed both hands on the lever operating the elevating plane, and at the same time tugged at the steering wheel. The machine then rose like a bird, and, just missing the tree, sailed fairly into the air. The speed was 50 miles an hour. The paddock was circled in a little over a minute, the machine being about 40ft above the ground at the time. Slowly it came back to the starting point, and settled without jar or shock.

The spectators rushed over to congratulate Houdini on his success. Among the first to do so was Mr Ralph C. Banks, who has,also been experimenting with the Wright aeroplane near the spot.

After a few moments’ rest, Houdini again took possession of the machine, and opened the throttle wide. The Biplane again rose into the air, after a preliminary sprint of BO yards across the field. This time a height of 100 ft was attained. The machine remained in the air for three minutes, and made a circuit and a half of the paddock; then it glided gracefully to earth.

A third trial was then entered upon, and again Houdini rose into the air. The biplane swung round the paddock, and then Houdini, boldly tilting the upper plane, made a sensational flight over the tree-tops. In all three circuits of the paddock were made, the three odd miles being left behind in a little over four minutes. As in the previous flights, the machine rode to earth in graceful undulations. and Houdini, gasping with excitement and emotion, clambered out of five pilot seat, to be received with renewed congratulations and cheers by the spectators.

Houdini .says he hopes, if weather conditions arc favourable, to shortly make a flight over Melbourne, and possibly fly across the bay from Port Melbourne to Williamstown. lie added, “I am the first man to have flown in Australia, and I have fulfilled my greatest ambitions. I shall never forget my sublime and enthralling sensations, and I only hope that my success will encourage other aviators to persevere and conquer the air. They will find aviation a pastime providing new and wonderful sensations, such as no other pastime can afford.”