Parachutist’s One-mile Jump

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 26, 1 February 1937, Page 6

Parachutist’s One-mile Jump

BRILLIANT DISPLAY AT MILSON AIR. G. SELLARS DESCENDS IN WIND Leaping into space at a height of approximately one mile, Mr. G. Sellars, New Zealand’s only professional parachutist, made a successful descent before a large gallery at Milson flying field yesterday afternoon. In view ot the conditions, it was a brilliant jump, as tho distance spanned was only a fow hundred feet less than Air. Sellar\> Dominion record jump of 5800 feet. This record descent was made at Alan gerc last year. Twice postponed on account of the search for two missing fliers and because of adverse weather, Air. Sellars’ display yesterday did not draw as great a crowd as was expected. Many peopleremembering the wind that raged the previous Sunday, decided yesterdav morning that a parachute jump would be again impossible, and did not go o:r

to Alilson. However, when a crowd assembled at the aerodrome, the parachutist decided to keep faith, with tho public. Piloted by Flying-Officer E. Harvio, instructor to the Alanawatu Aero Club, in tho club’s Moth plane, ZK—ABA, Mr. Sellars made an early jump from 1500 feet, and about 4.30 made his one mile descent. He claimbed over the edge when about a mile and a half di-i----tant from the centre of the aerodrome, and drifted quickly in the wind to land only 30 yards from Union Airways’ hangar. The wind velocity at ground lovel was about 25 miles an hour. The descent was made without mishap, except that Air. Sellars sat rather forcibly on tho parachute’s locking mechanism when landing, and may have to eat his meals off the mantelpiece Cor somo days as a result. During the afternoon, Union Airways liners took many passengers aloft, and there was some display flying.