Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-07-10
THRILLS Of A RIDE
IN A FLYING BOAT
Water Birds Shrek in Good.
Fellowship as Passenger in
Curtiss Hydroplane Gazes En-
tranced at Swiftly Changing
Panorama Spread Underneath

day were the fortunate few who had the
tiss flying boat. Several times during the
day. the boat TAXED up to the shore of
Burlington beach. famed n large crowd
Of bystanders with it's propeller blast, dis
charged a breathless passenger, and took
on another who was trying his best to
keep from displaying his excitement.
/ The gulls on Burlington breakwator
ehrieked In good-felowship as this new
water and air creature slowly motored out
to deep water. Then, tail up and throttle
full open, the boat gave a burst Of speed
which excited the envy Of the gulls. The
roar Of the motor quite drowned the rush
of the water so that the passenger never
knew quite when the machine began to
mount from the water. Soon Juniper Is
land and the Four Brotheres began to
take on a sharp distinctness, as when seen
from the Old Mill tower or Ethan Allen
tower. And then a hasty glance at the
horizon showed one that he was getting
we'll on top of the world and, without any
disagreeable feelings he was getting to
point where he had three dimensions at
his disposal instead of merely two.
What could be more natural" thought
the passenger: when college professors
and bright young scientists are talking
about the fourth dimension, isn't 1t high
time that most Of us we're making
some practical use of the third dimen-
sion?" Then he was forced TO
quit musing. for the beauties of the
scenery demanded his attention. Here
was the most beautiful panorama in
America and he had a rapidly moving.
slowly climbing. grandstand seat.
Looking back, the Green Mountains
were dimly visible over Burlington
hill. To the south, Shelburne Bay was
clearly outlined In it's every point and
,indentation. To the north. South Hero
and its small island satellites were
plainly seen and the railroad fill lead
ing to 1T from the mainland was a rib
bon Of white. Craning his neck fur
Their, he could see the green intervale
and the silvery streaks Of the lower
Winooski. And on the railroad track
was toy train, ridiculously small
And now the earth began to tip at
an angle, and II soon appeared that the
pilot beside him was executing the sim
pie maneuvre of left hand bank
turning TO the left with his right wing
tip higher so that the planes would get
; a firm grip on the air in turning. He
did that WELL" thought the passenger
"if this were q racing auto. we would
for us on the turns But now we're
in the air: we pick our own road and
create our own banks when we turn
The pilot explained above the roar
} of the motor that he was not going
, to do any acrobatics "They can't be
done with boats or seaplanes because
they have a heavier and more cum
! bersome body than a land machine and
, they haven't the excess motor power
which is necessary for stunts. Thi:
Is good deal safer than motorcycle
riding. In my opinion" he added.
, The plane then gained altitude toward
the south and the passenger drank II
the beauty of the Winooski valley ant
the beautiful farming country between
Burlington and the Green Mountains
: The pilot was bit blase about thu
scenery. 81 know it's beautiful" he yell
ed. but this haze takes the edge off of i
t for me. Why, we could see four times a!
much or as far II the haze would clea
away" Then he began to look at an in
dictator which he said gave the r. +. NJ
so that he knew just how much moto
3 power he was getting. And the passen
ger, cool and calm and happy for thu
first time during the day, hoped that tn
pilot wouldn't ever glance at the clock
e but would fly and fly until the air go
r thin or gas gave out
Then the plane circled oyer Burlng
ton. which looked like a very trim AM
fiat little toy town with its streets prett
4 we'll hidden in the trees, and the park
I and the college campus like tiny. we'll
kept garden plots.
Then the roar died down, the pilot ha
I throttled down the motor. There wa
little sound except the whistling Of tn
wires. The plane glided down gentl
grade over busy North avenue
: which was full of people an gazing up
+ ward. swept by smoke stalks and cleare
Il trees until the passenger was again owe
the water. Then at a height Of fftee
feet or so the pilot began to pull bac
3 on the controls, and slowly settling dowr
= the plane glided for what seemed to b
z a long period. Then it gently sheared OF
the top of a ripple and threw up littl
spray. and came to a halt
g AS the passenger climbed out at tn
d shore a minute later and realized tha
. there was a hot and solid earth upo
which lie must spend most of his exis
= tence, he said well, that won't be m
& last flying boat ride. Yes, 1t was tn
sensation of a lifetime, and II my none
will stretch that far, don't see VIII
| shouldn't enjoy many such" And IN
F crowd who watched the flying boat d,
cided that they liked to see such cra
around and hoped that a lot of thel
would soon come to be considered &
y regular features of the Champlan Lane
scape.
y THE MELTTNG-POT
ar (From Leslie's)