PARACHUTE DISPLAY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 2, 3 January 1936, Page 9

PARACHUTE DISPLAY

THRILLS AT AIRPORT. TWO DESCENTS MADE. N.Z,-TRAINED BARA Oil UTIsT The thrills of parachute juieping attracted a large crowd of speutalors to the Wanganui Airport yesterday aj'K'inoon when two jumps were made by Mr. G. W. Sellars, of Auckland, a Nc>. Zealand-trained parachutibl. Mr. Bellars made his first descent at an altitude of 2000 feet from the Wanganui Aero Club's Moth, Zl\-A ('ll, ‘piloted by Captain Talbot Lehmann. I The parachutist left the aeroplane as it was flying over the fringe of the i sea at the Bouth Beach and landed in |the far corner of the airport near the sandhrils. As the ’plane cruised over | the aerodrome the spectators saw a I white spot climb out of the cockpit on to the wings and a few minutes later a \body was turning over and over in the air. Suddenly a little parachute I opened, followed by a long sheet of ! cloth which gradually opened into a silken umbrella which glistened against the sun. The flight of the falling body was immediately arrested ami the parachutist drifted slowly down to • earth. I Air. Sellars made a second descent later in the afternoon from an altitude J of 1500 feet, leaving the aeroplane in the northern corner of the aerodrome ! and landing in the centre of the field after a perfect descent. During the afternoon a number of passenger flights were made under perfect weather conditions. Members of

I the Wanganui Glider Club gave a ‘demonstration with their machine, Mr. i J. Btrachan making three flights across I the field towed by a motor-car. During i ils flight th j glider reached a. height in | excess of 50 feet and made two landings of which any pilot would be envious. Tun machines belonging to members of the Wanganui Model Aeroplane Club gave exhibition flights and performance of the small machines was remarkable. One model ’plane I was in the air for almost, five minutes and during that time went through a i number of evolutions.