Evening star., 1918-02-24
! ''''e0 UP" IN A|RSK|P,
| C|RCL|NG OVER CITY
Senator New and Representa-
i tive SchaII "Loop-the-L Loop"
: With British Aviator.
)
DELIGHTED WITH THRILLS

While their collea CUES debated on the
1oor or deliberated in committee ses-
sions two members of Congress yester-
day took their first flights in the ar
They went up" with Col. C. L. Lee of
the British Royal Flying Corps. circied
over the city, sometimes upside down.
ascending in Potomac Park, while
cheer went up from the throng that
gathered to witness the flights.
They were Senator Harry S. New of
Indiana and Representative Thomas d.
Schall. the blind member of the House
from Minnesota. Senator New ascended
with the British flyer at 4 o'clock, and
upon the return of the big biplane
Representative Schall took his turn in
the air Both lawmakers expressed
themselves as highly delighted with
the trips.
Senator New was the first member of
the upper branch of Congress to make
an airplane flight in Washington. Rep
resenta tive Overmyer of Ohio was the
first member of the House to venture
"trip in the air He went up with Col.
Lee several days ago.
/. In Presence of Big Crowd.
=. Before a big crowd of Washington
.,
TO the polo grounds in Potomac Park.
Col. Lee brought the big machine into
action a few minutes past O'Clock. 1t
had been damaged in flight at Camp
Meade. Mechanics put in a new engine
and the loud hum of the motor added
spectacular feature to the ascension.
Because he was SO large the leather
strap which guests of Col. Lee fasten
,,around them as a protective measure
was not used for Senator New The
senator. who confesses he will be sixty
years old in a short time, said he was
mot afraid of falling.
e From the Mall the airplane scared
;. eastward over the city. Then il took
"a northeast course, made a quick turn
"end returned Senator New and Col.
British pilot did the s.Dutch glide" the
.''loop the loop" the nose dive and
other difficult feats. When the machine
landed Senator New said he had had a
great experience.
|. His First Thrill in Many a Year.
n year that Representative Schall had
when the big machine turned its nose
Upward and took a gradual. graceful
Swing to the treetops. The blind rep
which he was mounting by putting
Ibis hands on the shield before him
.s After Mr.. Schail had been in the
air ten minutes Col Lee, so he later
eSek"h 20 AafS MS pdSSCa
ger had enough So he turned the
machine downward When it stopped
Mr.. Schall wanted TO know why he
= hadn't done the difficult fsats he had
read about n the papers
- DO You want me 10 loop the loop?"
asked Col. Lee.
"a Sure. rejoined the preventative.
Into the air went the machine again,
TO remain this time for twenty minutes
The first flight was barely ten minutes
And this time Mr. Schall had all the
thrills he wanted.
.r. TT was joyful experience to me-"
he said when he had returned to his
,office in the House Office building. Not
s.pince I lost my sight eleven years
;,ego have had such a wonderful time"
/, Never Saw an Airplane.
y. Mr.. schau declared he never saw an
sAirplane in his life. The nearest ap-
''proach to one, he declared. was
,sausage-shaped balloon that was being
introduced eleven years ago.
On the trip up with Senator New
Col Lee ascended to about $500 feet.
On the last trip the pilot went 5000
,tfeet, according to Mr.. Schall.
90 Now that the ice has been broken
.sby the most venturesome members of
.Capitol yesterday that others in both
houses will take advantage of the
Opportunity to make a flight with Col
ice. The British aviator is out with
IA standing invitation to any official
siof the government to accompany him
.iin fight.