JOY-RIDER IN THE AIR.

Thames Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 17680, 3 September 1929, Page 6

JOY-RIDER IN THE AIR.

UNTRAINED MAN’S FLIGHT.

COURT-MATOTAL PENDING

A youne; craftsman of the Royal Air Force carried out an amazing exploit at a south of England aerodrome last month. What he did was nothing less man to take a four hours’ joy-ride in a huge twin-engined night bomber—though he ,had never flown, an aeroplane before. He was arrested on landing. The aircraftsman wvas detailed at his aerodrome for eiirlv morning flying duty. Just before reveille was sounded at 6.30 he was standing by a bomber in which ho was to fly as a mechanic. . Gno of his friends, it is alleged, made a, bet with him that he could not fly the machine. . ‘Though he li.id never piloted an aeroplane, the aircraftsman climbed into the cockpit, and to the astonishment of his comrades took off in the great twin-engined machine. "When the flying officer who was to have been the pilot arrived ho found his aeroplane r gone. There was constem ation in the aerodrome, and Urgent messages were sent to all service stations in the district asking them to dispatch every available machine to, search the skies. Motor cyclists and . motor-cars were sent out from tho aerodrome and from military camps. The sky was full of machines and the roads were filled with vehicles all looking for the adventurer in the sky. For nearly four hours they searched. The Air Force police were called and ambulances and the fire brigade were got ready. The aircraftsman took off at 6 a.m. and returned at 10 a.m. Pilots in the air and a large force on the ground watched with anxiety the machine approaching the aerodrome. It circled perfectly and then swooped down. The aircraftsman had taken off perfectly and kept the machine in the air for four hours, but could he land —the most difficult part of all ? He is only 20 years of age, and everyone in the aerodrome knew that tho young adventurer was relying entirely on his book knowledge. Down came the machine.V'Ho is coming too fast,”' cried everyone. But though the aircraftsman’s speed was too great he made a perfect landing. His speed, . however, carried him into somo bushes and the under-carriage was damaged. In a few minutes those who had been watching saw the young aircraftsman strolling across the aerodrome calmly smoking a cigarette. The R.A.F. police arrested him preparatory to courtmartial. Officers in the aerodrome who watched the aircraftsman land admitted that his flying was extraordinarily good for a man who had never taken a machine in the air before. His first flight was on a great machine which will carry 10 men.