Aerial Thrills

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 638, 15 April 1929, Page 11

Aerial Thrills

Parachute Artist to Pei form at Pageant ACROBATICS IN MID-AIR Nerve -wracking acrobatic stunts in mid-air performed on a trapeze fastened to the undercarriage of an airplane—leaping from a piane at a height of 3,000 feet with a parachute, with trapeze bar attached, to stunt and perform unusual and breath-taking antics during the gentle glide from the dizzy heights to earth. These will be some of the thrilling manoeuvres to be witnessed by Aucklanders at the Aero Club’s, grand pageant to be staged at the Ihumatao Airdrome next Saturday. r PHK daring aerial acrobat to perform these stunts will bo a member of the Aero Club, Mr. N. Jonassen, of Thames, who many years ago undertook similar feats with marked success. The performance on the trapeze attached to the undercarriage of the plane, will he given at a low altitude of about 100 feet. Clinging to the trapeze bar. dangling from under the machine, which will circle at a speed not loss than 80 miles an hour, Mr. Jonassen will perform various balancing feats. As with other interesting novel events on the programme, this exhibition, being staged so close to th® ground, will be best witnessed from the public enclosure on the airdrome. Those lining the road with the bone of getting a “free show” will be disappointed. DISPLAY AT HAMILTON | Hamilton people possibly know more about Mr. jonassen and his daring feats than Aucklanders, for it was many years ago in Hamilton that he gave a most successful display of stunting from a parachute. On this occasion Mr. Jonassen took the air in a balloon and the following details from an eye-witness prove most interesting. On being liberated the balloon whisked high into the air like a flash. Mr. Jonassen executing a series of trapeze acts as he was rapidly borne over two thousand feet into cloud land. A stiff breeze was blowing and (ho balloon sped along, gradually becoming smaller and smaller, and bearing a tiny human figure which waved and valiantly went up higher. Suddenly the crowd gave a gasp of amazement and it was seen that Mr. Jonas* sen had parted'company from the balloon and had commenced his parachute descent. While boating rapidly and smoothly toward the earth he i gave some remarkable displays of aerobatics from the trapeze bar which was attached to his parachute. The performance was a thrilling one and sufficient to raise the hair of the most daring onlooker, general satisfaction being expressed that the intrepid performer hacl come through the ordeal with safety.

Mr. Jonassen was then considered to be one of the most skilful and most cool aeronauts seen in the Dominion and though his calling was a dangerous one. he appeared tp exhibit no trepidation. For an exhibition of cool and calm during his aerial flight he was to be commended and there is r.o apparent reason why he should not give an exhibition just as thrilling and entertaining to Aucklanders next Saturday.