FLYING DISASTER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3767, 15 March 1928, Page 3

FLYING DISASTER.

KINKEAD KILLED DURING TRIAL FLIGHT.

London, March 12. Flight-Lieutenant S. M. Ivinkead, flying a-Supermarine Napier S 5 seaplane on a trial flight, prior to attempting to break the.speed record set up by the Italian airman de Bernhardi, crashed into the sea and was killed. The machine . nosedived into the water and sank, carrying Kinkead with it. Both pilot and machine were lost.

Kinkead had been waiting at Calshot for a week for an opportunity to wrest the speed record from Italy. The machine was never in the air until Sunday, when it had a most successful trial. Today a second test was tried, after waiting all the morning while a snowstorm raged over Calshot Aerodrome. Towards afternoon the sky cleared and the conditions were favourable.

The official timekeepers of the Royal Aero Club were ready, and the stage set for what was expected to be a triumph of British airmanship. Kinkead was obviously undecided whether to attempt the record or not, and paced up and down, often alone, conversing with officials. Suddenly he appeared to make a lightning decision and instructed the timekeepers to 1 take up their positions. The Supermarine Napier 875 horse-power-engined seaplane was brought out of the hangar and the engine warmed up. When she took to the water she appeared to have considerable difficulty in rising. Ivinkead taxied down the Solent, turned, and taxied easily a mile and a half before rising. He flew seemingly at half-throttle for ten minutes and landed. A few minutes later he opened out the engine and rose, apparently to begin a record flight. He circled the aerodrome, amid the terrific noise of the exhaust.

When at a height, of 400 feet he swung sharply for the purpose of entering on the course. The pentup watchers heard the engine’s deafening roar, indicating the opening all out. The machine shot forward with incredible speed. Next second, with appalling suddenness, it dived absolutely vertically. An agonised cry broke from the onlookers. For a few fleeting seconds everybody was paralysed. The machine was swallowed up in the water. Instantly the launches were patrolling the course at full speed. The search continued until darkness.

The onlookers, including French, Italian, aril Japanese air attaches, were greatly distressed at the tragedy. Lieutenant Kinkead's abilities were widely respected. The feelings of his fellow-airmen are summed up in the expression of one: “It is a terrible tragedy. .So much was expected of Kinkead, and now he is dead.”

KINKEAD’S SPLENDID RECORD

London, March 12,

Only half-an-hour before the flying tragedy members of the House of Commons applavsled Kinkead’s Sunday efforts, when mentioned by Sir Samuel Hoare.

Kinkead was a South African, aged 31 years. He joined the Naval Air Force in 1915, was made FlightLieutenant in 1917, and captain to the R.AJF. in 1918. He was awarded the D. 5.0., D.S.C. and bar, and D.FjC. and bar for gallantry, consisting of attacking and dispersing a cavalry division in Russia, gallantry at the Dardanelles, conspicuous gallantry and skill against the enemy in aerial combats, attacking enemy formations in superior numbers, and dispersing enemy troops in France.

Many theories are advanced for the accident, one that, flying into the sun, the horizon was not visible, and lie may have dipped the machine and flew straight into the water.

IDEAL TEMPERAMENT FOR AIRMAN. London, March 13. The “Morning Post’s” aviation correspondent states that no one was better pleased than Kinkead when he was chosen to attempt to break the world’s record. Has temperament was ideally suited for the task. There were no signs of frayed nerves during the long days of waiting for suitable weather. He was at the air station every day at dawn, ready and anxious for the first fine half-hour. He believed the machine would do 315 miles an hour, aiid his only anxiety was that Bernhardi might forestall him by raising the record figure, making it more difficult to beat.