GREAT AIRMAN'S LAST FLIGHT.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17469, 1 June 1922, Page 13

GREAT AIRMAN'S LAST FLIGHT.

HOW SIR ROSS SMITH DIED. (from our own correspondent.) LONDON, April 21. Interest" in the round-the-world flight was growing day by d.iy. The intention • was to start from the Thames in the region of Westminster, a plan which would havo brought thousands of Londoners togetiher to speed the intrepid Australian airmen on their adventure. Then came the news of Sir Ross Smith's fatal trial flight. The sporting interest of millions was centred upon this trio, and such world-wide sympathy and consternation has probably not been felt for many years over the death of any two individuals. The accident occurred at Brooklands shortly alter noon, in perfect living weather conditions, within a matter oi four or five minutes of the great airman's taking over at ttae aerodrome, close to-Messrs Vickers' worktSj of the new Vickers Viking machine —the machine which recently won the £10,t)o0 Government prize, and exact rep.icas of whicn. ftave been made for the Governments of the United States, Japan, and Holland. When some loOjft uigh, Sir Ross Smith was seen to be m difficulties, and the maclnine started into a spinning nose-divb, from which it never recovered. In the sight of hundreds of Vickers' employees, including members of the staff, expert mechanics, and famous flying men, and whiie motor-racing at 100 milee an hour was going on on tiie tnick beneath it, the silver-grey Viking crashed to eaitii in a clump of big firs, and the two occupants met with instantaneous 'deaVh. The great trees were crushed like match-ftick3,' and the machine was completely wrecked. The fate of the pilot and his assistant needs no description.

"Plying Soft." "From the evidence of several expert eye-witnesses (writes Major C. C. Turner, in tne "IXviiy Telegiaph ) tuere appears to bo little doubt as to what happened. When coming into the aerodrome, and at a height of about lOuOrt, it was seen that Sir Ross was 'flying soft." He appeared to have slightly reduced power, and was going at little more than the machine's minimum flying speed. He then attempted a turn. From the ground, this appeared to be running a risk of losing flying s Pe«d> and that is precisely what happened the next instant. The machine was seen to be slowly spinning on a level keel, and at the same time dropping—what is known as a 'flat spin.' Then the inevitable happened: its head became tilted downwards. \This would naturally follow, even though the pilot did not himself dip the machines head, which would luve been the first step to recovering full control.) Even then it appeared to experienced observers that he would be able to get the machine right again; there appeared to be plenty of room, to recover. TTnhannilv as the machine descended SiMfeA W-d, it became jess controllable, and it is believed that Sir Ross, for some either over-estimated, hu distance from the ground or imagined he Mmora time at his disposal. With llKXirt to spare, pilots w«ho have flown the Vickeia 'Vikiiie' agree, there is room to get out ofa nSpin; although, of course, there is no room to spare tor hesitation or mistakes. From the evidence ot eve witnesses it certainly appears to be Se that Sir Roes did attempt a tu?nwhen the machine, was'flying soft,' although it is almost incredible that so expSftd a pilot chould commi-one of +lia rnrdinol errors. On the other it Snot be said that he was familW with that particular type. Out of Practice. «'lt iB impossible to ignore the fact that ho had for some months past- l>eea mot copied with lecturuux and with

the preparations for the • world-flight than with flying: and there is a common belief in the aerodromes that it is a bad moment for a. man when he returns to flying after a long absence. This, however, scarcely applies to Sir Ros? Smith, who had, as a matter of fact, during the past few days had tv.«» or three practice fliphte with descents to the sea. Of some accidents in the past one could say that they were expected. Therp was an intuition that the pilot would sooner or later fall a victim to some perfectly well-known idiosyncrasy or weakness; "and in like manner some machines have had an evil reputation. Neither of these thoughts oecnr_ to those who best knew Sir Ross Smith, and who are acquainted with the machine, as likelv to have anv bearing on the cause of the disaster. Si-' Ross was undoubtedly a fine pilot, but possibly out of practice and certainly unfamiliar with the amphibian."