Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-20
BROOKINS THRILLS
WITH ACROBATICS
HIGH IN THE AIR
Young Man Bird Gives ForetaSte
of Aviation Meet Sensations
to Invited Guests
FAMOUS SPIRAL DIP SHOWN
4 Didn't Intend Any Stunts, but
Got Enthusiastic Up
There Aviator Says

Diving, swinging in small circles and
executing the difficult and dangerous
"spiral dip" Walter Brookins upheld
his reputation for sensational and fear
less aerial maneuvers yesterday at
Dominguez field.
Brookins performed for a number Of
newspaper meW and photographers.
Many of those present attended the
aviation meet last year ami We're of
the opinion that for them there could
be no new thrill in aviation. Brookins'
performance dispcllcd this illusion.
iii show you what an aeroplane can
do in the air" said Broolins.
The Wright four-cylnder engine
spluttered and settled into a steady
drone as the aviator gave the word and
shot into the air. Mounting rapidly,
he sped across the NOW course. Work
stopped all over the field as the men
watched him.
Higher and higher he climbed until
a height Of some 800 feet had been
reached. Then, with Il suddenncss that
blanched the checks of the watchers,
the machine seemed to hesitate and
drop earthward
Then the machine once more started
forward and began to til, Higher and
higher went one side as the other sank
1t began to circle, going faster and
faster as the angle reached became
greater until it was seemingly Whirl-
ing around III a circle some ten feet
in diameter. 1t was the Sensational
"spirtl dip"
Coming out of the first spiral, with
equal suddenness, Brookins plunged
into another, going in the opposite di-
rectiOn this time, however. AS he came
out of the second he went into a third,
reversing his direction again and NOV.
ing in the same direction as in the
first.
MAKES ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TURNS
Strengthening his machine for the
| third tirne, BroolIins sailed to the up
| per end of the field while the specta-
| tors cheered and applauded. Return
! ing, he started his circles and once
more brought the hearts of those who
| saw him into their moEths by his dar-
| ing and skill in handling his ma
chine. Around and around he went,
making turns which seemed impossible.
Brookins arrived at the field about 4
o'clock. The machine which he uses
was ready for flight and with little
trouble was wheeled to the field. With
out changing his street clothes, the
young aviator climbed in and sailed
across the field. doing nothing to sug-
gest the sensations he was to intro
duce After giving his engine a
thorough trying out and sailing com
pletely around the new course, getting
his locations, he returned to the ground
and dOnned his flying togs.
'It wasn't very interesting" he re-
marked to a bystander as he put on his
gloves 1T wasn't any better than you
have seen before, was it? I fly just like
the rest of them. WE'LL [ am just
going to show you what an aeroplane
can do in the air. Now watch" and he
was off.
E,Ivipoe ox,eDI1y oIopor come ON foot Il,
the I; ir following his performance of
the spiral dip and sensational circles.
Brookins suddenly turned his machine
directly toward the ground. Once more
a gasp of astonishment went up.
Swooping down until within a few
dozen feet of the earth, with a simple
movement he headed the machine up
ward again while the watchers were
trying to figure out what could save it
from burying itself i'm the earth.
Again and again Brookns performed
the stunt, sometimes high in the air,
sometimes near the ground, taking
what seemed to be the limit of risk
SAYS HE GOT ENTHUSIASTIC
california atmosphere is great to
fly in, said Brookins on returning to
the ground II enjoyed myself very
much. Didn't intend to do much today
but ct enthusiastic up there. Tho view
is beautiful-the ocean, rolling hills,
fields and farms making very pretty
picture.
ST am going to go through the pro-
gram which l have Just given you peo-
pie every day of the meet" he con-
cluded. ''It is of interest to the spec
tators. and that is what / am here for"
ut was the most wonderful flying !
ever saw Beside it that of last year
was mere child's play" said Fred l..
Baker. who was the only one of tho
aviation committee on the grounds.
"I was astOnished when [ saw that
spiral dip. I had heard that such things
were done, but had not believed it was
possible to do what Brookins did"
Another aviator may be added to the
list already signed by the committee.
This new man is James Ward, a mem
Der of the Curtiss group Of flyers. who
has been ordered to this city by Glenn
H. Curtiss because of his recent re-
markabe showing at Atlanta.
Ward will be the Youngest aviator to
take part in the meet if he arrives.
He is but 30 years old and has worked
himself up from mechanic to aviator in
six months Although only a boy, he
is already noted for his daring and
skill and probably will prove an at
tractive addition to the aviators. II
is believed he will attempt to carry off
the endurance prize, as he has won
most of his fame in this feature of
awaiting.
FUND is BOOSTED $4,000
The funds for tile new meet were
raised $4,000 yesterday by the receipt OF
seven more new subscriptions. The
new subscribers are j. II. Adams, $1,000:
Home Telephone company, $500; Hotel
| MARYLAND. $1,000: German American
| bank. $500: r. L. Baker, $1,000; Henry
| O'Melveny. $500; Willis Booth, $500.
The committee yesterday petitioned
| the board of supervisors to place
| compton boulevard in as good condi-
ton as possible before the meet.
Members of the board inspected this
road yesterday afternoon and win rush
the work of oiling and rolling it.
The grandstands win he completed
Continued on PAGE Threel