AEROPLANE STUNTING

Taranaki Daily News, 12 May 1930, Page 11

AEROPLANE STUNTING

EXHIBITION AT BELL BLOCK.

MANY PASSENGER FLIGHTS. A thrilling exhibition of stunting was given by Flying-Officer lan Keith in the New Plymouth Aero Club’s plane yesterday before about 500 people at the Bell Block aerodrome.

Prior to the actual stunting Mr. Keith took up several passengers and, on these flights, gave the rapidly increasing number below a taste of what was to come. At 3 o’clock he took off alone and rose steadily to about 2000 feet before beginning his stunts. While rolling out of the second loop Mr. Keith heard something moving about the shelf of the cockpit m front. Guessing that it was the spare control stick which had been taken from its socket and Maced on the shelf, the pilot landed tnd removed it from the machine, rising again immediately to complete the stunting exhibition. Three successive loops were followed by rolls, spins, the falling leaf and nose dives. A demonstration of the use of the slotted wing was given, the pilot putting the nose up and sinking gently towards the ground. It was an entertaining and instructive exhibition and impressed those present with the seeming case with which a plane can be handled by an accomplished .pilot. The plane itself was the object, of much comment, its slim silver body, cut on lines suggestive of great speed, being greatly admired. It presented a pretty spectacle when the ; sun caught it time and again as it turned in a loop or fluttered towards: the ground from side to side in perfect “falling leaf” style. Passenger flights followed, many 'people availing themselves of the opportunity of an initial flight in perfect weather.