PLYING THRILLS.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 September 1920, Page 6

PLYING THRILLS.

DIVING GIRL AND FLAMING BALLOON. An aerial pageant at Hendori (London) attracted tens of thousands of people, who streamed to the aerodrome. The scenes on the route equalled those of Derby day. / Early in the proceedings the multitudes saw a little black figure dive downwards into space from the bottom of a super-Handley Page. The figure dropped and dropped—a fittle mannikin with dark moving arms and legs, and then a red, white, and blue parachute opened above it, and down floated Miss Sylvia Boyden, to land in the middle of the aerodrome amid the applause of the thrilled spectators. Later there' was successfully carried out one of the most interesting features of all—the relay race for a cup presentby Lord Northcliffe. Six teams of 3 machines each took part. Each group was marked with a dinstinctive colour. The.first 0 machines started level, and they had to round a definite point and land behind their teams, so that a message might be carried by the observer to the next machine. When it was seen that one aeroplane was considerably in advance of the other the excitement was great, and the whole race was followed with breathless interest. Several machines were disqualified for overshooting the mark. Mr H. G. Hawker gave an extraordinarily graceful exhibition of trick flying in a Sopwith Swallow, a small monoplane which merited its name as it soared and dropped on silver wings that shone against the grey clouds—at times even excelling the swallow as it turned over and over in a quick roll. As the yellowish kite balloon, with its black "Iron Cross," began to rise the public interest rose also. As Flight Lieutenant Hazcll, D.5.0., M.C.C (the destroyer of 34 German aeroplane* and 16 kite balloons), rose their spirits rose still more. He swooped down at the great gas bag. His machine gun sounded. Nothing happened. He turned and swooped and fired again. Again nothing happened. A third time he swooped—a third time his machine gun sounded. Then there was seen at the edge of the balloon a yellow flame, which grew rapidly larger and larger, and suddenly the whole balloon turned to flame and rapidly fell, leaving in the air a high column of black coiling smoke. Incendiary bombing, trench attacking, formation flying, and aerial fighting were other features of the pageant. A comic aeroplane, with (apparently) zigzag struts, a dummy crew, weird "gadgets" and decorations which paraded up and clown in front of the crowds caused much amusement. Finally jtf actually flew.