Farman's New Departure.

Progress, Volume IV, Issue 5, 1 March 1909, Page 154

Farman's New Departure.

According to his own account of his sensations, Farman's trip of seventeen miles in twenty minutes must have had enough sensation for the most exacting. Everything was new and debatable, while the pace gave little time for deliberation. Suddenly some tall poplars loomed up before the rapid flyer. Right or left or over the 90 feet of shimmering leaves ! As the question formed itself in his mind there was a great cawing and scattering of rooks from these very treetops, scared by the approach of this gigantic artificial bird. Just a

touch of the lever, and the poplars were left far below, and the sensation of uncomfortable doubt was succeeded by more than a suspicion of automatic security. The event showed how easy the control of the flight, but until the event what fearful uncertainty of rushing headlong flight ! Just as this change came, a great windmill approached with what seemed an unexpected dash out of the frontal vagueness. The windmill was supported by a large village, and a railway. line adjacent furnished a heavy rushing train ready for the broken aeroplane and its rider. Escape seemed impossible, but less so than with the poplars. "Bah! One can only die once. ' ' It was the confidence of stage daredevilry rather than of real life, and before the words were out, mill, village and train were far below and astern. These are the joys of the pioneers of the air. Listen to the pioneer on the subject: "During my flight I tasted the greatest joys of my life. There was the charm of flying above my fellows, while the peasants ran about in groups below. From all sides people, looking very small, gathered together to watch. I saw smoking, vomiting trains on their rail metals, and the motorcars travelling under clouds of dust. And I was in the pure air, kissed b} r gentle breezes, where the sunshine illuminated my undisturbed way."