AVIATION

Hokitika Guardian, 21 January 1931, Page 3

AVIATION

TERRIFIC CRASH

BIG BRITISH PLANE

United Pre»« Association—By Electri« Telegraph.—Copyright >

LONDON, January 19,

The Vickers Virginia plane before crashing into th e headquarter’s shed, which was located between the plane and the landing ground, narrowly missed the canteen, in which two hundred members of the Air Force were lunching. Eye witnesses say that it was travelling well at a height of five thousand feet. It descended to five hundred feet, preparatory to landing. Suddenly it side slipped. The pilot vainly strove to adjust the controls. hut the- huge machine, with its engines roaring, hurst into the end of the shed, which was a long, low brick building in which clerks and orderlies were working. The aeroplane broke amidships like a child’s toy, just behind the wireless operator’s feet, shattering ten feet of the wall into its component bricks, which strewed the ground amid a tangle of twisted metal and ripped canvas. It was a miracle that there was no outbreak of flu me, because the impact split one of the plane’s tanks, which, combined, contain four hundred gallons of petrol. I'he plane came to rest in a normal position, its tail almost intact, its left wing overhanging the roof and its right. wing crumpled underneath 1 . Those at lunch rushed from the canteen, extricated the airmen from the wreckage, under wieh the pilots, one dead and one dying were still in the cockpit.

HUGE EAGLE,

CAUSES PLANE TO CRASH

DELHI, Janlary 19

A huge rock eagle caused an Air Force aeroplane to crash at Risnlpur in the Punjab, resulting in the death of two airmen. Their machine, with 36 others, was practising formation flying for a forthcoming R.A.F. pageant at Delhi. The aeroplanes were descending, when one was struck by the eagle, smashing the fabric on one wing. Observer Jeffreys jumped out, but his parachute became entangled in the fuselage. He and Sergeant Wren, the 'pilot, perished in the crash. The rock eagle had a wing span of eight feet. Such birds are fairly common in the Risalpur district.

ANOTHER TRAGEDY

DELHI, Janlary 19. Another air disaster is reported from Shaibah. ,in Iraq. Squadron-Leader Stewart was killed when his machine crashed in flames during night operations. Another occupant of the machine was dragged from the cockpit, severely burned.

SCHNEIDER CUP. LONDON, January 19. The Royal Aero Club has resolved to leave no stone unturned to defend the iS4hneider Cup. It says—“ Ale are sure this decision harmonises with the public wishes.”