STATESMAN IN THE AIR.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14482, 1 July 1911, Page 2 (Supplement)

STATESMAN IN THE AIR.

FLIGHTS BY Mil. BALFOTJB AMD Mil. McKENNA. RESULTS Off TESTS. As a popunr demonstration of ttoo IXK3ibilit.cn of human flight, the aviation meeting "lor military yurpoate" lu;ld 011 May la, at Hcudon proved a fcignal success. It was an event in the life of thousands of Londoners who never before liad witnessed the exhilarating spectaelo of hcavier-than-air machines winging thoir wiiy through »ir with the grace and ewif tness of summer swallows while statesmen, soldiers, Bailors, and. Society, represented by the fairest denizens of Mayfair, wore also tin opportunity to witness tho great show m ease and comfort, und, indeed, to take active participation in it. Mr Reginald McKenna, the ifirab Lord of the Admiralty, and Mr Arthur Balfour for :Uo first time tasted th* delights of flying, and both statesmen enjoyed the experience. Whan taken aloft by Mr GrahajneWhito in his Faruian biplane, Mr McKenna,, who was in morning coat and hatloss, looked quite comfortable in the seat he occupied behind the aviator. Amid tho wires and woodwork of the aeroplane ho 100 Joed like a sailor in the rigging of a ship. r)n tho Midland Railway line, which bounds the aerodrome, an express train was steaming northwards,.and Mr MoKenna enjoyed the experience of racing the looomotiv the mechanical bird, of course, proving the faster. ' ■ ■ Mr Grahame-White nest book Bis distingu,shdd passenger over Collindalaavon la, in a i no glide, with tho motor shut off, and descended in the centre of luo grounds. Mr MdCanna described the sensation ot flying as delightful, and rddod that while in the air by had endeavoured to shout to Mr Grahamo-White, but that the oise of the motor prsrentwi hia voito being hoard. MB,. BALFOUR ON FLYING. Mr Balfour rode tlu-ci> times round the aerodrome in the same machine, told afterwards expressed iiis pleasure at having flown. Bui he added that if "one remained more than half an honr in the air one might be seasick." Mr Balfour's safe return to earth was greetxl with uhro» cheers, called for by Sir Ernest Shackleton. Lord Haldane arrived sarly in the aftornoon, but after a brief inspection 1 of the machine and witncsauifi two or three flights had to hurry hack to town to fulfil » public engagement. Royalty was reDresentedby the Duke and I>uchess of Connaught, and Prinoa Arth ir and Princess Patricia, of Ooa. naught. The Royal party, with several Cabinet Ministers, remained almost to the end of the mooting watching with the keenest interest the evolutions of the flying men over the aerodrome. Mr Asquith—with whom were. Mrs Asquith, the Misses Asquith, and Master Asquith— witnessed Mr Bal> fours ascent with interest, although* when asked to make a. flight, be contented himself with the lmmjrous reply that he had greater responsibilities tian the Leader of the Opposition: and other notable spectators included Mr Uoyd George, Mr "Winston Churchill, Colonel Seely, Sir Ernest Phaokleton! i/ord Lansdowne, and Lord Denmoo, the now Governor-General of Australia, ™« was also among those who fleir mth Mr Graharae-White "BOMB 'THROWING, lhe bomb-throwing tests wore frankly unconvincing. Both Mr Grahamo-WSfe and Mr Compton Patorson mode attempt to drop missiles in tho form of sandbags on nn imaginary Dreadnought and although they hit the target, tie. height from which they made their attack—five hundred feet at the most—could not certainly have protected thorn from destruction by the enemy, in case of real war.

Again, the demonstration ••{ erecting and dismantling an aeroplane proved to a certain ertont a failure. True, it took only eleven minutes to lave th» Bleriot monoplane used for the demonstration pieced together, but when tho aviator made an attemnt to rise from the ground the engine refused r to work.

The only tests of any real value from a military point of view wore the. reconnaissance with Army officers Be observers and the dispatoh-carrying demonstration from Hendon to Aldershot and back. In tiro kttett test boffi Mr Hamel and Mr Armsrtr6n K Drexol were „<j participate, but onlv Mr Haniel succeeded m carrying it through. i ! ! '