THE 'BRITANNIA' AGAIN

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1965, 23 January 1914, Page 8

THE 'BRITANNIA' AGAIN

MINDi ; A.-PASSENGER'S SENSATIONS^ (By IWearraoi—9DeciaJ OonrapondonU Auckland, January 21, Another trial of tliq Dominion monoplane Britannia was mado,. yesterday. TJio machine' did hot leave /the ground, but tho -test had its \val(ioi'in v sowing tho ready resource and the pilot (Lieutenant J. J. : Ham'ih'ond). it was about s.''o'clock' in'the afternoon and a fitfullCivliid. fcas blowing over the showgrourids when tho machino whs taken, from its hangar. • Lieutenant Hammond'and tho inilitary authorities con&htocl; .for.tho, first'.time, to- allow a pass,qngc.Oo,,.oscmp,Vi.tho,'spare scat, and a "Herald". ; representative took his-place behind the pilot.- Eight men held. ;tho, tail of;,tho <• aeroplane, while the engine w'a's 'tested and; as it'proved to bo running "• "smoothly, ;'Lieutenant Hammond gave tho , . signal: ; 'They let go and the.'machine ran' forward several hundred yards.., . '■'■" ,''■ Tho Pilot jumps Froni His Seat. A'S/;'Mip:, ■ was about' to let tho , - ■■• machine "rise , . Lieuteiiant Hammond fojind'" that ono of the wires controlling ';£h'e ! rudder was twisted, and hp, had.no control over it. He ■ therefore, not to let tho' ■ waohiiiD.-KO into the air, and cut off tho •engine. The impetus of the monoplane ■was , still icarrying if along tho ground, and the spectators thought that it woulVniit-aifenco which (had it risen) . it would have cleared by a considerable distance. Lieutenant Hammond, however, leaped from his seat, reached the ran-..part of tho machino in ono bound, and 'jammed the skid on the ground, thus stopping tho aeroplane several yards from tho fence. . It was decided not to attempt a flight until the rudder controls have been overhauled. This will bo done, this inoming.. ; It is understood that contretemps of this kind are of quite a common occurrence beforo tho machine lias left the ground, and an experienced pilot is always prepared for them. The rapidity with which ' Lieut. Hammond cut oft' his engine and vaulted from his seat to bring : tlio skid in' contact with tho ground was an admirablo example of that prompt'decision and action so necessary in tho airman. The knot of spectators were not a little astonished, not knowing exactly what" had occurred.. , , ■ . . How it Feels to Fly. From , tho, point of view of the passenger, tho experienco was a rather perplexing one. He was under the impression that the aeroplane had risen a few feet from the ground, and, when . the engine stopped, ho was surprised to find it still oh terra firma.. He was still more surprised to observe tho pilot dart.from liis seat, and, apparently, grab the rear of tho machine. The monoplane was then still in. motion, and, to be. alone iu a moving monoplane, was certainly .an experienco that tho passenger had not anticipated. The run along the ground, which is ,a necessary preliminary to a flight, is quite a comfortable experience. To begin with tho aeroplane seats are soft and yielding. One sits on a leather cushion and leans against a stirap, which gives with every motion. The seat is small and deep; so that there is no feeling that one might.tilt over or drop out. Tho most surprising thing, indeed, is the sense of security with which a ssaf'/ii an aeroplane 'behind a skilled pilot imbues one. The first sensation is of; a hurricane striking, one. ' That is wlidli' ; thd',tracker begirts; 'revolving at the rate of'about a thousand turns per minute. A few seconds accustom one to tho wind,; though, of course, it was necessary' to' , nave goggles on to see at all. ' Then'the-'pilot's arm shoots out. Thaij ,is a. signal for the men who have been , holding the machine to let go, and ,jt bounds forward. . There is a lifting tendency from the first, and, as the pressure of tho pneumatic tyres on tho ground is small, and all jolts are taken by the , shock-absorbing bearings, one has the impression that the maf'hino is rising beforo it actually leaves the groundj ■• Thero'is not much to be seen from the back seat, and one has to crafrd"his !lieafl v ''to ldolc'airectly'bri. to the ground below. It'is nioro comfortable ■ to" s£aro' : 'at ; the-pilot's 'back; also it is better for tho nerves. As tho bujlders of '.-. aeroplanes..... probably know it is interesting' watching the hack.of,the.man,who.has'your.life tem- ' .His'khaki.'coat' is wonderfplly' 1 "solacing aiid'ertQo.uragV, ing. While you are. making,up. ypu'r' mind that ' joyable, you really begiri'-fd'rise, unless, ; as happened to-day 5 tho luck is against i jou... .-. : .•■•"-'•. >*.o:; \: ■ ' .