PARACHUTING

Hokitika Guardian, 30 December 1931, Page 8

PARACHUTING

EXHIBITION AT TIMARU. TJMARU, Dec. 26. A strong sea breeze made conditions difficult when Pilot Officer J. S. Eraser gave a thrilling exhibition of the delayed drop in parachute jumping before a crowd of about five hundred'at the Wnshd.yke Aerodrome to-day. After his first jump, Air Fraser was dragged face downwards along the ground tor about fifty feet witii the parachute belling out in front of him before the running crowd could get to his aid. The ground was uneven and stony, bu*. Mr Fraser escaped with a bruise behind the ear... The exhibitions were given in conjunction with the South Canterbury Aero Club, which bonefitted considerably through the brisk business done in joyriding flights during the afternoon. Flight-Lieutenant ,J. C. Mercer and Air J. Busch, of the Canterbury Aero Club, had flown down with two Gipsy Moths and were kept busy all the afternoon and until late in the evening. Air Fraser made his first jump at 3.3 U when lie went up witii Flight-Lieuten-ant Alercer and jumped from 150 U feet, fie hurtled through the air for 600 feet before pulling the rip cord. The parachute sprouted suddenly from his shoulders; bis headlong tall was quickly checked and he floated gracefully to the ground where the strong wind made sport of the billowing parachute and the airman, until assistance was at hand. The second jump was made at 5 p.m., when the wind had died down. This was a successful jump beyond the fact that Mr Eraser landed behind a fence out of view of the crowd. He delayed the opening of the paruciihie for -SIX) feet. Air Eraser also gave a ground demon, stratum with the parachute.