Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-02
TURNS SOMERSAU[T
WHILE Up IN AERO
Daring Frenchman Repeats
Performance to Prove First
Was Not Accidental.

VERSAILLES. France. September o
The thrilling maneuver Of turning
somersault in the air with an aeroplane
flying at rapid speed was repeated today
by the French aviator Pegoud over the
aerodrome at Buc. near here, with per-
feet success.
Pegoud had promised that his perform
ance at Juvisy yesterday was not the
result of an accident, but was proof OF
proper control and also of the stability
of the aeroplane. He carried out the
daring feat with apparent ease again to-
day in the presence of officers of the
French army flying corps, about 100 mill
tary and civilian aviators and large
assemblage of the general public.
Ascent, Is Delayed.
A dense fog had settled over the dis
trict around Buc this morning, and this
delayed Pegouds ascent for three hours
and a half Then the sun burst through
and cleared away the mist. Pegoud ran
his aeroplane into the center OF the neid
and indicated to battery of moving pic
ture operators and newspaper photogra-
pliers the part Of the SKY from when ne
ward. He then took his seat at the
motor and rose in a spiral to height OF
1900 feet. There he turned his aeropiane
into vertical position with It's tall up
ward and drove down toward the earth
like an arrow.
When he had descended to an altitude
of 100 feet he began with his machine TO
describe vast letter Inc Wneels
of the aeroplane We're clearly visible IN
the middle of the So sticking upward.
while Pegoud could be seen hanging with
his head down. The aviator sailed along
in this position for about fifty seconds
Then his craft. with great sweeping
curve. came again into horizontal posi-
ton, this time with the aviator head up
ward.
Gets Flowers From Women.
The silence, which hitherto had been
disturbed only by the whirr of the motor.
was broken by a tremendous cheer from
the crowd Meanwhile Pegoud spiraled
to earth. He had been in the air only ten
minutes altogether. When Pegoud clam
bered from his seat a number of women
presented him with flowers, While the
aviators and military men crowded round
to shake his hand. A number OF his ad-
mirers bore him shoulder high to the
aeroplane shed. where Pegoud, using
box as a platform, tOlu the crown Oh his
experiences.
He declared that the motor was run
ming at only quarter speed while the
aeroplane was upside down. He con-
tinued:
THE machine was completely under my
control | could have flown farther in
the reversed position, but no object was
to be attained by doing SO. Besides.
hanging downward for long time brings
the blood to the head and would cause
inconvenience.
Filler Feels No Danger.
ut Is easily conceivable that some per-
sons might Immediately suffer from con-
sestion and thus lose control of the ap-
paratus. 1, however. felt no such
danger"
The greatest lesson learned from
Pegoud's feat, according to experienced
aviators who witnessed 1t. Is that no
matter what position an aeroplane is
thrown into while in the air by squalls
or accidents to the machinery an aviator,
il he keeps his presence of mind, should
be able to right the machine and volplane
downward in safety.