FLYING "NO-HANDED"

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 233, 2 November 1929, Page 5

FLYING "NO-HANDED"

CAPTAIN WHITE' S FEAT AT WANGANUI. ENCOURAGING INTEREST IN AVIATION On his present tour of the country in the Simmonds Spartan two-seater 'plane, Captain White, of the Hawke's Bay Aero Club, is doing much to encourage interest in aviation in the various centres he visits. A typical instance of his activity is provided from Wanganui. The 'plane arrived there, on the first stage of its Dominion tour, late in the afternoon. The "Wanganui Aero Club committee were there and had the "smudge" and landing "T" prepared. The demonstration of the planes flying capabilities was then postponed until the next morning, since rain was falling heavily and everyone was very damp. Since Capt. White was desirous of leaving for Blenheim as early as possible next morning in an endeavour to make up lost time, the committee had to be on the grounds not later than 6 a.m. In spite of the early hour and the fact that it was a holiday and therefore a legitimate opportunity for slumbering late, the committee all arrived on time, and after the engine had been sufficiently warmed the demonstration commenced. After the committee had gone carefully into the new features embodied in the "Spartan," Messrs Franklyn, Browne, and Goodey then took a trip in turn and experienced the plane' s prowess at first-hand. During two of these flights, Capt. White, in order to demonstrate the plane' s inherent stability, removed his hands from the control column and elevated them in the air in full view. The plane, notwithstanding the pilot's hands were not on the "joy stick," flew on steadily. During one flight the plane' s left wing dipped a little owing to the cold air rising from Virginia Lake, but the pilot made no attempt to grasp the control column and correct the plane's lateral dip ; instead he smiled at the slight concern visible in his passenger's face and easily and gracefully the machine corrected itself and resumed its flight on an even keel.