AN AEROPLANE FLIGHT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 992, 6 December 1910, Page 5

AN AEROPLANE FLIGHT.

BAD-TEMPERED AND SARCASTIC CROWD. ThousandsVof people journeyed to Altoim Bay on November 2(i to witness what was announced as the first public air flight in Victoria by M. Cugnet. A l'edoral Parliamentary party also attended, and the event was" regarded as of such importance as to warrant tho christening of the llyer, bnt though many ivaited late into the afternoon no flight took place. Mr. Hughes smashed a hottlo of champagne, which poured over himself, and he splashed tho machino with ft fow drop's. The crowd cheered enthusiastically. After the Federal members had arranged themselves in groups to smile for bioscope purposes, the police by suudry charges and tramplings managed to clear a; wide space about the aeroplane, aud everybody waited for the aviator. He walked down the field presently. Everybody cheered, and the photographers and bioscopic experts were busy. The aviator climbed into his seat. I hero were loud cheers, and cries of He a oft," but lie was not. He sat quietly in his seat while' members of tho committee stood about the machine discussing the breeze. It was growing up from a light southerly into a sharp wind, coming in increasing gusts. The gathering became bad-tempered and sarcastic, ami as the breezo increased and Put tho flight further out of question its sarcasm increased. Then the committee decided to set the machinery going while prevcntiiijr the "aero" from 'rising. When it was realised that no' flight was intended the anger broke forth afresh, and groans ior the committee were given and demands were made for the return of the money.. So persistent did the display-of ill-tompcv become that fears for the safety ot the machine wero expressed, and the committee formed a cordon while the drove the people back. The crowd then began to disperse, and at 7 o'clock the machine wns led back to its shelter tent amid hoots and groans. M. Cugnet, in the courso of a letter to the Melbourne press, says it was most regrettablo that the wind was so strong, and that any attempt to fly would have been to risk serious injury to the only machine, it is important to" note, we have in Australia.

Criticising Australian impatience, he f, n ? S: , , raa y ,)e so,ne consolation to Saturdays.visitors. to knolv that nt exhibition (lights in Europe visitors frequently wait fight through a day In the expectation of u night, which even then is not always certain."

A cablegram published in yesterdnv's Dominion slated that M. Cugnet essayed a flight at the Austral meeting on Saturday. The wind, however, caught his monoplane, and dashed it to the asphalted tennis court, completely smashing the machine. Cugnet was not injured.