A PLYING EXPERIENCE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 270, 11 August 1919, Page 4

A PLYING EXPERIENCE

A Christchurch girl, "M.H.8.," writes from London to a relative:— What do you think L. and I did on Friday? You will never guess. Well, we went flying! A girl from our club went one. day and told us how perfectly glorious it was, so wo determined to sport a sovereign each and go up, too. So wo went down to liounslow and went up. We set off full of swank, determined ■to do stunts and go ono better than the other girl, but our pride soon had a fall, and we carno home with very drooping feathers. We dressed up in coats, ilying caps, and goggles, and climbed into the aeroplane; the pilot in front, I just behind him, and L. behind me. We started oft' quite well; the mounting was all right, there being no sensation at all. It was simply a steady mount, and wo still felt full of beans. It ivas extraordinary to seo tho earth gradually gotting smaller and smaller as wo rose higher.

On getting in we had very confidently asked for stunts; well, now the plane began to turn, and they have to bank when thev turn. That means that they have to stand up on the tip of one wing 60 you look out ono side to i seo the earth, and on the other you seo the sky! However, that part was all right, too. Wo didn't mind it a bit. But, just then, 6\voop, swoop, swoop, upsido down, sideways, swoop!! We hung on liko grim death, and,, looking up, there was the. earth, and below was the sky! Mid we hadn't done a whole loop either, hut a half one, called a half roll. We did two of these!! And there was L. sitting in tho back shouting: "I want to go home"; no one hoard her, as the noise is so terrific, you can't hear yourself speak._ Tho coming down was quite ordinary, as our going up; I had dreaded that beforehand. But when we got out we felt terribly bad, and seedy ever since. It was really too funny for words our coiping home, only wo were not in tho mood for seeing a joke. We went out full of beans and swank, returning green ns grass, and with faces as long ns fiddles; not speaking a word. No more flights for these children. Whenever I seo or hear an aeroplane now I shall say: "Thank goodness 1 am not up (here." Of course, when we have thoroughly recovered, and timo and distance have lent their enchantment, wo shall probably feol able to 6wank a bit over it. But not Totl The disillusionment i 6 still too freak 1