VISITING AVIATOR.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1907, 15 November 1913, Page 3

VISITING AVIATOR.

J. J. HAMMOND IN WELLINGTON. Visiting Wellington at present is Mr. J.. J. Hammond, the well-known aviator, who hailed originally from Marfan, in the Rangitikei district, where his, family still reside. Mr. Hammond became interested in aviation during a visit to Europe some years ago, <and decided to qualify as a pilot. He proved himself to have every quality for that risky vocation,' and soon came to bo one of the most skilled and daring of British aviators. It will be remembered that Mr. Hammond returned to' New Zealand on a visit to his people about two years ago, and whilst staying in the country met with an accident which temporarily disabled him. Subsequently he returned to Europe. • ; In the course of an interview Mr. Hammond stated that he was prepared to perform the same amazing feats in the air which have been accomplished by M. Pegoud, the daring Frenchman (who loops the loop in mid air), if it was made worth his while. "What does that mean?" he was asked. "I want £1000 a week. It is worth it." ■ , What—on account 'of the risk? "No, not so much that," was the reply. "I saw Pegoud do his tricky work in the air. It is not so dangerous as it looks. A monoplane will do it itself provided you let it alone. Look what the Frenchman did. Hβ went up ma monoplane, got into a parachute, and let her go. The machine turned completely over,, and came ,to. the ground undamaged. But would not the weight of the pilot interfere with those movements? "Not at all," 6aid Mr. Hammond. He would give it greater speed on" its headlong flight. You can do Pegoud's trick provided you us'o an > ordinary Bleriot_ monoplane with a longer tail and with bigger planes. You simply shut the motor off and go down head on in a vertical drive from about 1000 feet.- Tho machine rolls over on its back and forms a gigantic S in its course—that is for tipside-down work. The machine goes down head on, tho clutch is pulled back, the machine dips up quickly, and tho impetus of going up completes tho circle." Mr. Hammond has inspected tho monoplane "Britannia" at Buckle Street since his arrival in Wellington, and states that he would be prepared to fly in it at the difforent centres should tho Government authorities agree. There is one drawback at present, and that is an important ono. So far tho propeller has not arrived, but it is understood that this important part has been cabled for by the Defence authorities.