MID-AIR HAZARDS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 January 1931, Page 8

MID-AIR HAZARDS

EXPERIMENTS BY PARACHUTIST. FALL FROM 10,000 FEET. AUCKLAND, January 20. A fall into the sea from a height of 10,000 ft. and a struggle in mid-air trying to release the container of the parachute while hurtling down from an aeroplane 2,500 ft. above the ground —these are only two of the experiences of Mr H. Qviller, a Norwegian parachute expert, who arrived af Auckland by the M.aunganui to give a series of demonstrations throughout New Zealand.

Mr Qviller entered the Norwegian Flying Corps ;but an accident prevented him from becoming a pilot. He then started experimenting in parachute descents, and for the last 10 years has been exclusively engaged in this branch of aeronautics.

“Although there have been astonishing advances in aviation during the lant few years, comparatively little consideration lifts been given to lifesaving in the air,” Mr Qviller said. “Of course experiments are constantly being made to minimise the actual mechanical risks of flying; but on even the largest ocean-going liners the passengers have their lifebelts. 'Hie jsame thing is needed in the air; but whereas a parachute may act as a lifebelt it requires far more expert handling.

“On a sinking ship the passengers and crew can figure in minutes. If an accident occurs in the air, the pilot of an aeroplane or his passengers have to figure in seconds. However, it is possible to figure in that way, and if special courses were given in the operation of parachutes there is no reason why many air fatalities should not be avoided.

“I have put myself to the test, and know that on a signal from the pilot I can climb out of the cockpit and be prepared to jump in from three to four seconds.

TYPES OF PARACHUTES. “There are two types of parachutes —the non-automatic type, which has to be opened during the fall by a pull on a rope, and another type, which opens itself by the pressure of the atmosphere as it falls. The latter is certainly the more efficient, and I claim that it could land an unconscious man in safety.” The most exciting incident of Mr Qviller’s career was when he jumped from an aeroplane at a height ol 2,500 feet, and his parachute (one of an early type manufactured in Germany) failed to open. In a flash lie sized up the position and managed to open the container and release the parachute. However, he had fallen over 1,500 feet before the parachute opened.

A HAZARDOUS FEAT. His escape on this occasion made Mr Qviller decide to undertake another hazardous feat. He jumped from, an aeroplane with two parachutes strapped to his back, and after the first bad opened, cut it away, and then opened the second himself. “It came off all right,” Mr Qviller said, “but T should not like to try it again.”