THRILL IN MID-AIR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 27, 22 June 1914, Page 7

THRILL IN MID-AIR.

AEROPLANE FALLS ON AEROPLANE. TWO MEN BURNED TO DEATH IX A RACE, Bue, the flying ground near Versailles, was recently the scene of one of the most terrible disastcn in the history of flying. During a speed v:ice an :i'.'.ropl«ne piloted by Bidot, with a passenger, dropped on another flying below it. in which Cuendot was taking a passenger, Bidot's propeller crushed the petrol tank of the lower machine, and it fell flaming to the ground. Both Cuendot and his passenger, who were strapped to their seats, were burned to death, before the eyes of the spectators, who were powerless to help.

Bidot's aeroplane also iell to the ground, and the pilot and passenger lie gravely injured in hospital. The aerodrome was packed with an enormous holiday crowd. At least 50,000 people were .present. There liad 'been some fine flying, iop there was scarcely a breath of wind.

THE FATAL RACE. It was" at 4.50 p.m. when the speed race began. Three aeroplanes started. One was well in front. Bidot was flying about twenty-five yards from the •ground, and ten yards lower down, Cuendot tore along at sixty miles an hour.

Then, on (flic second round, tin- lower machine "took the air" of the upper machine, ami tragedy darkened the sunshine. Bidot's aeroplane suddenly swerved and dropped like a stone. It smote the plane below it with a sound of jangling wire and tearing fabric, and the petrol flamed up like a fire balloon. The two aeroplanes came crashing to the ground before the grandstand. Men wrenched off their coats and rnshwl forward to try to put out the Ilium's. Hundreds of coats and overcoat* were tossed on the 'burning hea'i with no effect. Women fainted in the terror :of the moment. A photographer tryin" to photograph the scene was nearly lynched by the crowd. 'Finally, with scorched hands the volunteers managed to drug oat from t'he tangle Bklot and his passenger. Bidot was badly burned and hi* ankle cut to the bone.. His passenger Wso A doctor pave) them morphia, and they were taken to the nearest hospital. Then, as the fire remorselessly burned itself out, among the smoking, twisted mass they found Ouendot and his passenger, in 'their sells, burned to death.