SEEN FROM MR

Taranaki Daily News, 9 May 1930, Page 14

SEEN FROM MR

■STUNT FLYING BY AEROPLANE. Besides drawing many hundreds of motor-cars by the roads of Taranaki, the official opening of the oil bore yes- t terday attracted the New Plymouth Aero Club’s plane to the locality .twice during the afternoon. The plane/chartered by Coal, Oil (N.Z.) Ltd was piloted by. Flying-Officer lan Keith. The first flight was a straight-forward one tor the purpose of photographing the activities from the air. On the second flight a Daily News representative as passenger was subjected to almost every thrill that a Moth plane can provide, and the public below were regaled with, an entertaining exhibition of stunt flying. The town of New Plymouth and 'the intervening country fell away and behind. as the machine headed for Omata. The pilot gained altitude as he went, and it .was 'only a few minutes before the derrick of the oil bore became visible. The long, straight ribbon that was the Great South Road stretched out towards Opunake, and just past the small cluster of buildings representing Omata two lines of cars could be 'seen converging and intermingling in one £’ earn, .which flowed quietly towards the coast and away : from the main road. . When near the' sea, but still on fertile green country, the line of cars turned towards New Plymouth and proceeded along a track for some distance before reaching the bore. There the cars were parked in orderly lines, but so great was their number that they were also parked indiscriminately' along the track. . All this the unsuspecting passenger saw, and then he realised why the plane had been steadily gaining altitude. With dreadful suddenness its nose shot higher into the air and'it began the first of three successive loops. Between. the very different sensations caused by rising, and falling suddenly,-direct, glimpses were caught of the land below. One moment it .was the-, neat cluster of the oil bore buildings with smoke rising .from a chimney and the gaily decorated derrick, next it was the crowd with fluttering handkerchiefs; and'then, the sweep of coast so close to' the scene of the on operations, with . the calm, quiet sea lookin®' so peaceful and so far away. All these were, flashed at intervals before the passenger’s eyes. As the plane came out of its last look a huge sign Goal, Oil (N.Z.), Ltd.,” stood out bold and clear. ■ . The plane rose. Feeling strangely safe, the passenger leant-over the side and a roaring wind caused by great speed tore at his helmet. Then dowii X e v nt r f‘ 0 plane’s nose, and “Coal, Oil ( '* rushed upwards. The individual figu e that comprised the crowd became c e.ai, and the reservoir seemed to grow in size. Flattening out, the plane circlet hill upon which stands the other machinery. Lower and lowei l plane descended until the P eO P ~ out of sight, and the plane was 'ell in a gully. GutlWing “bove roared over the brow and swept aboie the crowd high into the air. Flvin"-Officer Keith treated those be low V every thing, A spinning JW; dive was followed by a faU J = - ’ in which the plane swayed gently down ward. Stunt after stunt was executed. Then towards Bell Block again, with the Sugar Loaves standing clear of the sea and the town spread out below. . .