AVIATION

Southland Times, Issue 17610, 26 March 1914, Page 7

AVIATION

SCOT LAN D IN THt: All:. FLIGHT AT WELLI.NCTUN'. A THKILLINIi TE It.M IN AT lON. AI FIMA NS NARROW FSt' A FF. •Per United Press Association.) WF1.1.l NOTON. March 27. Well ington people saw tlu' lift local tt emplane flight tills afternoon. and tlio.se who witnessed its brief course and thrilling termination will not soon forget It. For three days Mr .1- W. H. Scotland, the young New Zealand aviator, had been foiled by weather and prevented from essaying a (light, but to-day the condition seemed better. Tbe weather was fine though overcast, and only a light wind blew, hut it was apparently tricky, corning up the valley front Island Ba> to Athletic Park, where the aeroplane was to start its journey. A fair crowd gathered in the Park watching with interest the mechanics putting the final touches to the preparations. Then soon after a o'clock, the conditions seeming fa von ruble, Scotland decided to start and donned his coat and helmet, and climbed Into the seat. Tin- engine was started and the machine was turned round and motored across the ground in front ot the crowd to a corner so that a long diagonal course was available to enable the aviator get a good "take off." The engine was speeded tip. the wont given, and the Caudron biplane started quickly along the ground. Half-way across it . began to rise gently and evenly amidst applause. la a few seconds, as the airman got above Eerhamnore. i; was noticed that the machine seem-d to rock and jolt about in a manner alarming to people used only to solid earth. Then Scotland, as he approached the higher ground on the western side of Newton Park, turned to the left with a steep “bank." us if intending to return to the starting point. Tito wind now caught the machine, threatening to drive it on to the bouses on the rising ground immediately ahead. The aviator endeavoured to rise higher and succeeded in part. He was able to avoid the houses, but eomd not shake off the grip of the gusty vNnd enough to let him get i good elevation, and the aeroplane crashed witii a resounding noise into the top of a big pin' l tree on the edge of Newtown Park, facing Bussell Terrace. The crash startled the crowd. 'There was a momentary hash, and then a hurried movement towards the exit, and soon the streets leading to the seen- 1 of the accident wer~ thronged. On arrival at Kussell Terra.ee, however. Mr Scotland was seen coming town ihe road with some iTb-ncs. lie nad grasped a branch of the tree when the smash came, and so saved himself from hurt, beyond a sprained timmo. and & bit of a shaking. The machine's framework was sma-h----ed. the canvas of t!m planes badly ripped and torn and both blades of the propeller broken off short. The vi re work v.as twisted, and tangled in the tree top. The motor was appently undamaged, in the circumstances the airman must b»- congratulated on a lucky escape.