HURLED PROM ’PLANE

Waipa Post, Volume 48, Issue 3471, 26 May 1934, Page 2

HURLED PROM ’PLANE

The hair-raising adventure of an aeroplane passenger who was hurled into space at a height of 4,00 0 ft., and after turning three somersaults saved his life by pulling the ripcord of his parachute, was described at Southampton. The passenger was Mr W. S. Soule, a young Canadian, and his pilot. Mr A. S. Hell, of Vienna. Both are taking flying courses at Air Service Training, Ltd., Hamble. They were flying over Bishops Waltham when Mr Hell put the machine into a slow roll, and Mr Soule made his unexpected parachute descent. Describing his experience, Mr Soule said: “I fell away from the machine because the pin securing my safety straps was not. properly fastened, I somersaulted three times before I managed to pull the cord. Aftei descending I,oooft. I began io rock from left io rigid, bid eventually landed comfortably after narrowly missing some trees.” Mr Hell said: “When we were 4,ft()oft. up I told Mr Soule I was going to do a slow roll to the right. As the* 'plane went over on its back T saw him fall out and become lost io view. “I completed the roll, and then, looking down saw Soule gliding to earth with his parachute open. I shut off the engine and followed him down. “Soule alighted in a small field and when he waved to me that he was O.K. I flew on to another field two miles away, where it was possible to land.”