The Hawaiian gazette., 1911-07-14
EVIATORS FLY At
LEILEHUA FOR
MILITARY
Mason and Walker
Took to Air and
Did Things.
ACCIDENT AVOIDED
Mason Nearly Jumped
in Ravine---MotOrS
Gave Trouble.
lFrom wednesday 5 Advortiser.l J

(From Wednesday IS Advertiser.)
Didier Mason performed his second
series of aviation feats in Hawaii yes
terday with the Curtiss biplane belong
ing to his company, indulging in a
series of flights for the benefit of the
Fifth Cavalry and Second Infantry
regiments at Leilehua. He had motor
trouble aloft and came within few
feet Of pitching into a gulch after
coming to the ground from one fight,
but seraped through without accident.
Following Masson's success, Walker
made two flights after dusk last even
ing, in one gaining a great height,
Mason appeared to be as much at
home in the biplane as he proved him
self to be in the monoplane which he
drove from Leilehua to Kapiolani Park
recently, covering the twenty-five miles
in nineteen minutes and setting a Ha-
waiian record for speed. The cavalry
men and infantrymen at the post were
delighted yesterday at the exhibition
and cheered the young aviator repeat
edly.
The aviators worked steadily since
last Friday repairing their biplane,
which was wrecked at Hilo. Having
decided to fly Tuesday morning they
found it necessary to work part of
Monday night, and it was only early
in the morning when it was found
that call was ready" and principals
and mechaniciaus could get few
hours sleep.
An Early Start.
At half-past six, Mason clambered
into his seat on the biplane and gave
the order to flet go.' The machine
SCARED gracefully in the air for half
a mile, then rose about three hundred
feet over the hospital building of the
Fifth Cavalry, turned to the left and
made beeline to the target range,
where the Second Infantry men were
having target practise. The officers
called out orders-men missed the
bullseye and waved their capes enthu-
siastically.
The air prince swooped his machine
to earth at the range to pay his re-
spects to the ofiicers-then made three
or four flights over the parade grounds,
alighting at each end and starting
again, demonstrating the perfect con-
troll over the machine he had.
Motor Trouble.
Finally he started on what he ex.
pected to be long flight and flew out
of sight. The soldiers watched, but
as he did not return as expected, il
was thought that an accident had come
and a mad rush was made by officers
in automobiles, men on horse back and
FIVE hundred soldiers afoot, A short
dash over the hill found Mason quiet
ly sitting in his machine smoking a
cigarette. "C'est lie moteur qui rate, -
he announced, calmly.
Men were dispatched TO get spare
parts-a little tinkering on the motor
and Mason started off again with his
cigarette and a smile. He few about
a mile in a straight line brt was
forced to land again from more motor
trouble.
Danger Aground.
This last flight almost proved dis.
astrous. The front tire being pune
turcd, the brake would not work and
the biplane dashed over the grass,
straight for a guleh with a twenty
y foot drop. Mason had one of three
Athings to do-stay with the machine
and take the drop, jump out and lei
the machine 60 to its fate alone, oil
take his chances and try to stop it
He took the chance, saving himself, the
machine and the gulch, this incident
brought the Leilehua meet to a close
and was wildly cheered by the soldiers
The officers of the Fifth displayed
much interest in the work of the air
men and followed the setting up OF
the machine attentively, asking many
questions, and taking measurements
Several talk of building models and
gliders and the Fifth Cavalry Aero
Club has been started, getting six mem
bers in two days.
The aviatOrs are enthusiastic in thl
praise of the eordiality of the officers
sail on Honolulan.
Walker did not intend TO hy as h
has not been well of late, but eonl
not resist the temptation 20 try th
air strata of Hawaii once more befor
he takes his machines back 10 th
mainland. All leave on the Honolnla
and Mason win build machine esp,
eially adapted for long flights Tn
machine will be finished six weeks al
ter lnnding-then some Of the Ame
iean records, be promises, VIII fan I
hia feet.
Naason Leaves Honolulu taking VII
him The gold medal struck by The A,
Tefliser for DE Island record flight