THE ÆROPLANE AGE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 81, 14 July 1910, Page 5

THE ÆROPLANE AGE

EON. C. S. ROLLS KILLED. FATALITY AT BOURNEMOUTH. By Cable.— Eregß Association.— London, July 12. The Hon. C. S. Rolls was killed waile aeroplaning at the Bournemouth meeting. ' DETAILS OF THE ACCIDENT. London, July 12. The Hon. C. S. Rolls, in a biplane, ■was engaged to-day in an alighting competition when, in making a sudden descent, he caused over-pressure on tiie back tails. The pivots were broken, and the machine became powerless. He fell a hundred feet at a terrific rate, and was dashed into a mass of matchwood and broken steel. Rolls was extricated from tme debris •with a broken neck' and the base of his skull fractured. All flying has been abandoned for the day. FURTHER DETAILS.

Received; July 14, 12.35 a.m. London, July 12. The Rolls' fright bi-plane was the same as he jused in the cross-Channel flight, but, instead of the fixed tail-piane, yesterday h 4 utilised Wright's new adjustable stabiliser. Rolls considered the fixed tail-plane greatly assisted stability, but slightly countered the effect oi the movements of the, elevator. The new .plane gave increased facility in ascent and descent. After circling gradually to an increasing altitude, Rolls, at great speed, swept over the enclosure with a following wind. Then he headed round behind the grandstand in the teeth of the wind, descending at a steep gradient towards the prescribed alighting point, /passing over the lawn at a height of 70; feet. He stopped the motor and began to descend at an angle of 40 degress] in order to avoid a long run to the ground With a view of checking the descent and alighting on the wheels he brought the elevating plane up sharply. The sudden air pressure on the/ tail-plane, caused by Rolls' violent puli on the lever, precipitated the collapse. The gear connecting the rueder snapped at a height of 50 feet Silence and horror seized the crowd on seemg the machine turn sharply head downwards. It crashed to the ground from a- height of 35 feet, the motor instantly exploding with a loud report. I

Mr. Rolls, who was 33 years of age, was the third son of Lord LTangattock, a large landowner in Monmouthshire, and was educated at Eton and Cambridge. He was a pioneer in the introduction of automobilism into England, and won many prizes in competitions for motors, Recently he had taken up I the aeroplane, and his successful flight across the Channel and back on June 3 is fresh in the memories of all.