LANDING DOUBLE

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 86, 8 October 1940, Page 8

LANDING DOUBLE

UNWILLING STUNT

PUPIL-PILOT'S ADVENTURE

SIGH OF RELIEF

(By Trans-Tasman Air Mail, from "The Post's" Representative.)

SYDNEY, October 5

The landing of two large R.A.A.F. planes, locked together pick-a-back fashion after a collision in mid-air has brought world-wide fame to Aircraftman Len. Fuller, a 22-year-old pupilpilot. Experts say that the feat was probably the most freakish in the history of aviation

"It's the kind of thing that will be talked about for years by pilots all over the world—and just not believed by a lot of them," said an experienced Sydney airman. "The young pilot showed great skill and coolness. It seems that almost anything can happen in the air. The history of flying is full of miracles." Two trainees were an each plane. The pilot and observer of the lower plane and the observer of the top plane parachuted and landed safely, though one was slightly hurt. By his coolness and resource Fuller saved the Commonwealth about £40,000 because, though both planes were considerably damaged, they can be repaired. The two planes were from a training school in the southern district of New South Wales. They were flying at about 1000 feet. The collision occurred directly over Brocklesby, near the border between New South Wales and Victoria, and broken glass from the machines dropped into the main street. Residents expected to see the planes crash headlong to the ground. Instead, they locked together, and, after swerving for a few seconds, returned to an even keel.

Immediately the other three men had jumped from the machines. Fuller began to pilot the locked planes to earth by means of the engines of the lower plane and the controls of the top plane. He brought them down on to a clear paddock, two miles from Brock^esby. He jumped from the cockpit unhurt. An Air Force officer, who examined the locked planes after the landing, said that they could not have been more skilfully joined together on the ground with a hoist. During the five miles' glide to the ground after the collision the centre of gravity of the two machines must have been nearly perfect. I PILOT'S STORY. "The accident happened so quickly that I hardly had time to register it," Fuller said in an interview. "The two planes came together, mine on top, and there was a grinding crash and bang-bang-bang as the roaring propellers struck each other and bit into engine cowlings. It was a terrific bump, and I would have been tossed right out of my seat and away from the controls, i if I hadn't had my safety belt on. "When the first shock had passed, I found the planes still flying in a sort of way, and I thought I might have just a chance to get them down in one piece. I thought if I gave up, I and baled out. they would crash- into j Brocklesby and probably kill people. ISo I decided to give it a go. ! "I ordered my observer to jump. He yelled, 'What about and threw me a parachute, but I said 'No, I'm staying on. Get going/ "He got going, and I gave my attention -to trying to keep the two planes steady. It was some job, as they were | flying as sluggishly as they could. My i port engine stopped immediately the. 'collision occurred, but my starboard motor was just ticking over. Both engines of the lower plane were turning over at a good bat, and it was these engines that kept the" locked planes in the air, while I flew the freak combination by the controls of the top plane only. "I looked over the side of my cabm and saw that the top of the cabin of the other bus was crashed in. I got worried then about the other pilot, but suddenly I saw him, injured, crawling out of the wrecked cabin to bale out. Then he slipped away, and I went back to flying the planes. They j were lumping along like a couple of i bricks. ! 'LIKE AN ELEPHANT." "Then things started to get worse. The revolutions of the two motors on fhe lower plane started to fall off, and [ they became harder to handle. I saw a likely paddock in front of me. I tried to make that, but the engines were getting weaker and then I knew I wouldn't make it. Then I sighted a nearer paddock and decided to make for that. With my heart in my mouth I tried a right-hand turn, and the locked planes lumbered slowly round. "The engines were hardly going. At 500 feet the motors of the lower plane were just idling.

"The joined planes glided in like an elephant, and I worked out how I would land. They were sinking so fast I knew I'd have to level off for the landing sooner than usual. When I tried to pull the stick back for that, it was so difficult I just about had to stand up on the rudder bar. and heave back with all my might. Thej' glided in, and, about 10 or 20 feet up, stalled for the landing. There was surprising little bump and the planes must have run about 200 yards, almost a normal landing. Then I hopped out. I just heaved a sigh of relief, and it was a very large sigh, I can tell you."