A FLIGHT IN AN AEROPLANE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12856, 26 October 1912, Page 3

A FLIGHT IN AN AEROPLANE.

A WANGANUI. MAN'S- UNIQUE EXPERIENCE.

MR. G. W. McCADL FLIES IN A MAURICE FARMAN 81-PLANE.

WHAT IT FEELS LIKE,

(Special to "Chronicle.")

I had on three separate occasions made special and particular arrangements for a flight in an aeroplane, bui on each occasion and at the eleventh hour some insuperable obstacle had intervened and I must admit that I had felt that strong sense of relief usually experienced by a man when informed , j that his dentist, Messrs. Pullcm and i Wrenchem, will not be able to attend i ; him to-day. Just after posting my letter making arrangements I heard of the tragic death of young Campbell, whose aeroplano had overturned, dashing him to pieces just about where I hoped to mako my flight. It was from Hendon, 1 Graham White's famous aerodrome that I hooed to fly. I asked an obliging London bobby for the best and most expeditious -means of reaching Hendon. "Eudon, Endon," he replied. "Take servico No. 13 or No. 1 from the Strand, about 45 minutes run, sir." I am not particularly superstitious, but apart from the fact that gentlemen of my trade aro popularly though perhaps erroneously supposed to prefer No 1, I I had no desire to tempt the fates by rid- | mo: to the scene of operations on a i motor with tho ill-omened 'No. 13. ConI sequently I allowed two No. 13's to pass i before I succeeded in getting a No. 1. 1 Thousands of excited peoplo were pour;me into the grounds, for flying as a 1 spectacle seems to possess irresistible at- [ tractions for Londoners. The novelty has not vet worn off. I reached the office in duo eours«, and in a somewhat : quavering: voice asked the much be- | medalled janitor what type of-aeroplane would bo used if passenger flights were made to-day. "0, f dunno," he said. "Somo ov'em, I suppose." I felt far from hapr>y. I wanted a good strong one. I should have liked to examine all their machines, to have gone over them with a screw-wrench and a spanner and to have picked out a nice strong one. "And who might be taking up passengers to-day?" said I. "o', Bill, I suppose." said mv friend. It all'seemed a bit too casual to me. I wanted to pick my pilot and to get one of the best. I was taken into the office, paid my money, got a receipt and an indemnity was th^n read to mo wherein I stated expressly that I duly recognised—had been specially warned that the enterprise was perilous, and I and the heirs, executora and administration of me thereby covenanted and agreed to indemnify and to hold harmless the Graham White Aviation Co. I signed the indemnity, my signature was witnessed, and in a somewhat subdued frame of ; mind, like a lamb to the slaughter I ; was led past tho waiting crowd to the aeroplano shed. Tn passing I heard a man say, "I wonder if that Moko's goin' to fly." I was much relieved to I faid that my machine was a frig strong looking Maurice Farman bi-plane. The pilot was already standing besido tho machine, tho engine was going and making all tho row a self-respecting Gnome engine can mako when unprovided with silencer. " Now bo very careful whero you put your feet on getting to your place, for " sake don't step I them " said the flying man. I siieceed!ed in clambering to my seat without demol:shing either of tho planes, or i wrecking any of tho wires. * My pilot , snrang nimbly to his seat. I was very comfortably placed just behind the pilot grasping with my hands two unno-ht stays, and like the immortal "Mark" in ;", somewhat similar position hanging on very tightly, not because I was frightened but becauso I wanted to. Tho aviai tor turned round to me, inspected mo very closely and said: "Scared"?" "Not | a scrap," said I. "Take off that cap, nlcase, or else turn it round like mmo is." "Thanks," t'.xid 1. "1 "don't wont to loso that cap." "Yes." he said, "and I don't want it to blow off into' mv propeller, break a, blado end incidentally my neck." "Mine, too " I murmured. I took off tho offending cap. jammed it in my pocket, buttoned '" everything tightly, and took if pos*i|>lo n still firmer grip of my supports. Iho cup-mo revolved faster, marie a Ytttio moro noise, then somebody said • I'Cffßo, Bill." Apparently Bill let co anc! we on our littlo pneumatic tyred wheels wero bounding swiftly over the in-:\ss._ Our speed increased, \vo seemed o^-Ps.onailv to bound r.Vht off the 'i'^irZ i >oV nds h°^-™ longer and T-nn.onf, , t Js i mn .^iVo for mo to say ? \7 !n? ,™n rnisfd tho little front rlovobn.. piano ~o SW vn wl to tako ft ™"r f<? n tT r + anl mOr° darin« lpaD' ]»jt •?, v a] l°nd- ™*rt tT»o lovor in h?s tM nr.^ntm lu-lnns- n-h'.nh mark tho »">T."->th us. I could see in tho far dis-

* tance little black dots, which were men and women pointing eagerly towards the fast-rising flying machine and strangely enough I felt no giddiness whatever, even when looking intently beneath mo. Only once did I have the slightest symptom of fear, and that when we made our first turn. The aeroplane heeled over at an alarming angle, seeming almost to side slip. She soon righted, wo got the breeze fairly behind us, our rate sensibly increased. I had a splendid panoramic view of the great city, the flying ship rising all the time steadily and swiftly. The wind, blowing keenly, hummed throxigh the struts and stays of tho swaying aeroplane. I could feel that I was tingling all over. The aviator called out: "Had enough?" "No, higher!" We flew higher, but soon, alas! too soon, tho machine was pointed downwards and slowly and steadily and at a very long angle we sank to the ground. Wo touched lightly, ran swiftIv along and then stopped almost exactly whero wo had started. My flight was over. What were my sensations? Well, it is hard to say. I know nothing quite like flying. It is a sensation and an experience unlike anything else in the world, of sea-sickness or air-sickness rather —not a, trace, of giddiness as lit— tlo and only the very faintest symptom of fear.^ The wind even on a calm day seems so bright and cold, the motion so clear and exhilarating and even when descending there isn't the slightest sensation of falling, one seems to sway and sweep rather than float through the air. Tho dominant sensation in my case was pure exhilaration. The air was so sweet and keen and clear, and I felt such a splendid tingling in my nerves. My inclination was to go on, on, on higher, faster and faster, and as for danger, well, one hardly thinks of it. I felt, and I think with justice a, far greater scnso of danger when thoughtlessly enough I essayed to cross the Champa Elvsees, lost mv head in the middle of tho street and stood helplessly, the converging; centre of a, dozen fiercely driven motor-cabs—and who so mad as a Parisian taxi-cab driver? or when, against the outstretched arm of a Lon- ? don bobby I dodged across Piccadilly Circus on a, busy afternoon, and after more hair-breadth escapes than I care to think of reached the opposite side with wildly beating heart and trembling knees. After my flight, in company with ono of tho greatest living aviators, I examined all the moro recent types of aeroplanes, including a lovely fourseater Maurice Farman bi-nlane just over from Paris, fitted with a high powered Gnome engine; and. best of" all, a. beautiful blue winged Caudron monoplane capable of doing a hundred miles an hour, probably the fastest machine in tho world, in appearance like a beautiful blue winged flying fish. This machine ready for flight costs £480. Indeed, speaking with tho sublime confidence of a great ignorance, I say tho Cmidron monoplane for mine! Just a little anecdote about this identical machine. At a big aviation meet ins; the- pilot, when at a- great height, raised tho wrong; plane—did something hopelessly wronrj—to err is human. A /^ist* of wind struck tho rolling machine.' accentnptinp; to tilt, almost till overturned, falling lil.-n a plummet trvvr.rrls tho around. The nnor dropped his lever and grasped thf» upri^htf,." niermwhilo tho anxious ivaitinir crnv.-rl hr>r»|\tth watched hopelos-dv and hoTnl<^<=lv for tho consummation of another" sod ah- trnsrccly. When suddenly tho enWidul litiln bluo winged aoronbn^ swayed and .'•p.-led on an oven keel find floated "r^ily find «"ifelv to the oround. Tho aviator, dnnthly white and fainting, wa? lifted from hp swt, his nerve broken but otht-rwise. unhurt and unharmed.