The Washington times., 1919-07-02
GIRL DIVES 1000
FEETFROM PLANE

Four people, one a pretty twenty
year-old girl, yesterday jumped from
an aeroplane at a height Of more than
], 900 feet in a parachute test.
The jumps were made at College
Park. the Washington aerial mail n.y.
ing field, yesterday afternoon before
a large gathering Of army, navy, and
aerial mail officials.
The four shooting stars" were
Major T. Orde Lees, veteran aviator
of the British royal air force; Miss
Sylvia Boyden, a London girl; William
Lindley, American aerial mail pilot,
and Lieut. R. A. Caldwell, r. A. T.
Lindley declared he had never
even seen a parachute jump before,
and he had not seen the parachute
he used until a couple of hours be-
fore his jump. Without Untying or
inspecting the package, he took a
chance! He volunteered to make the
jump to test the parachute for Lava
renee Sperry. the inventor, who is
trying to have the Aerial Mail Serv-
ice adopt it.
The British party has been giving
parachute exhibits in various parts
Of this country for several weeks and
each member OF the party has made
many jumps.
Motion Pictures Taken.
The plane carrying the jumpers was
accompanied by two other planes car
rying motion picture photographers,
who secured pictures of the para
chutes as they dropped and Unfolded.
The Sperry parachute is very light,
and can be used as a cushion for the
pilot until needed. 1t is made by hand
of silk. Lawrence Sperry is well
known as the inventor of several
aeronautical appliances.
The parachute used by the British
party contains several new safety ap-
planes, including a shock absorber.
composed of a dozen thick strands OF
rubber. which take up the jerk Of the
fall, and quick releasing device.
Mail "ChuteS7 shown.
A demonstration was also made Of
the use of parachutes for dropping
mail without interfering with the
flight Of the plane. Otto Praeger,
Second Assistant Postmaster General,
declared IL would be only a short time
until all planes would be equipped
with parachutes, especially in the
mail service, and that the department
was already experimenting with de-
vices which would allow the picking
up Of mail as well as dropping il with
out landing the plane.
The first jump was made by Major
Orde Lees. In the passenger seat OF a
CuTtiss JN4D biplane he rose to a
height Of 1000 feet. climbed out Of his
seat, hung balanced for an instant, and
plunged into the void. His parachute
opened quickly, and he landed one
minute and thirty-nine seconds after
leaving the plane.
The plane, which was pIloted bv
Charles l.. Stanton. superintendent of
the eastern division of the aerial mail
service, then landed and took up the
second jumper. Pilot Lindley The
jump was made from a height of
1900 feet, and the drop was made in
one minute and ten seconds
Girl Last TO Jump.
Miss Boyden made the last jump.
Clad in a khaki uniform. her figure
was sharply outlined against the sky
as she climbed from her seat in the
plane at height of l 200 feet
She could be seen poised for the
jump for an instant; then she dropped
clear Of the plane, a tiny black dot
against the sky. Behind her came a
second and smaller speck, which
gradually unfolded and spread out
into a red, white and blue Alken
chute"
MISS Boyoen made the 1900 foot
drop in two minutes and sixteen sec
onds. 1t was her ninth parachute
drop.
Major Orde Lees has had a record of
thirty-six parachute descents. and
is one Of the leading veterans of the
"parachuters." Yesterdays descent
was the first for Mr.. LindIey.
The British party, composed o.
Major Orde Lees. Miss Boyden. anu
Lieut.. r. A Caldwell, former royal air
force liver. is to leave MashinRtnn