KINGS OF THE AIR.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18651, 21 August 1930, Page 2

KINGS OF THE AIR.

GREAT PAGEANT AT HENDON. THRILLS FOR SPECTATORS. “If an airman loses his life to-day through any accident at a reasonable height it is his own fault." This was an airman’s statement after the great pageant at Hendon. After watching the dare-devils of the air all the afternoon one was forced to the conclusion they are taking greater risks than they ever did. Is it because they feel a greater confidence with their parachutes and the nicelyadjusted and tested apparatus which releases them in a moment? One learned from this airman how with a flick of the thumb a pilot can free himself from the harness that holds him in the plane; and how when he jumps into space he counts three, gives a jerk to a chain on his breast, and the life-saving parachute opens out to the air. However, there have been men who have lost their heads on their downward plunge to earth, and have forgotten to pull the chain, with consequences too terrible to think of. There was a blue sky and sunshine, with a fresh breeze, for the air pageant on Saturday. No one can give an accurate estimate of the number of people inside the ground, but it is known that the takings at the gates were £ISOO more than last year. Within the aerodrome last year there were 130,000. There were probably 30,000 more this year. The surrounding hills were black with people; in the car parks there were 12,000 cars. Prince George, representing the King, was in the Royal pavilion, and with him. were Royal visitors from Japan, from Greece and Siam. All the delegates to the Empire Press Conference were present. For them this was the last of all the remarkable spectacles they have been privileged to witness during their wonderful month in this country. Great Liner RlOl on View. Apart from the entertainment and the thrills, the public felt extra admiration for the precision with which the programme was executed. Every event was timed to the minute. The parade of six squadrons was the culminating proof of control and co-oper-ation in combined work. In quick succession the three sqadrons of fighters and three of bombers took off and wheeled in formation to the distant horizon, while other events took place. When their next turn came they were in proper position to make their roaring dives across the aerodrome in front of the Royal pavilion, and then again they were away while the programme ran on until it was time for the Dombers to come back, first in great arrow-heads, then in flights, and finally in line ahead, which was turned Anally into a wide circle of 27 machines moving like a merry-go-round in the sky.

Long before the official programme began people saw the great air liner RlOl in the sky. She had started from Cardington in the morning, and sailed over London, toured down the Thames Estuary, and came slowly to Hendon before her time. All silver in the sunlight, she looked not unlike a lazy fish in a very clear stream.

When the time came for the air liner to exhibit herself she circled down low enough for the people to see the revolving propellers and to diminish every feature on the outer case, but not low enough to impress one with her great length of 732 ft. A thousaEd feet of skyward distance makes the greatest monster a thing of apparently modest proportions. When one remembered that the control cabin is a chamber of very roomy proportions and in the air looked as big as a man’s fist, it helped one to remember the size of RlOl.

Six Parachutists in Space, Six parachutists stood on the wings of three aircraft while the latter slowly circled up to 2000 ft. At a given signal they released their parachutes, which were opened by the passing wind. Six men at one and the same time were pulled into the giddy space, swung below their parachutes, and started off to earth. Minor injuries are always possible, and motor ambulances were ready. Five got down safely and were immediately on their feet. One drifted towards the grandstand and the crowds. He showed, however, how by manipulating the ropes the parachute could be controlled, and he came down in clear ground.

Undoubtedly, one of the most spectacular and daring feats was No. 43 Squadron's display of formation flying each fight of three being tied together by elastic ropes strung with flags. They actually looped the loop tied together, so perfectly timed was their drilling Finally they broke their links, flying off with trailing ropes of flags. Tl >m ™ crazy flying again, a daring exhibition by two airmen, who made their planes stagger and gavotte ablni5 ly v. round the aer odrome and not 50ft above the ground. There was the destruction of the observation balloon nL a^.ce^Smy^flgllter w hich reminded one of the before-breakfast tours of many an intrepid airman in war-time. °/ the “ ost spectacular items was that in which three machines peril/ 1 / a series of aerobatics, marking their Paths with emitted coloured smoke. The outside planes left a trail of orange smoke and the middle one a trail of white smoke