The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-06-26
British Prince Likes
Looping the Loop in
High Soaring Plane
BY Forbes w. Fairbairn,

London. June 24.-Britain's next
KING has gone through the acid test
or stunning" in a war aeroplane.
For nearly an hour his life depended
upon the steel nerves and expert fly
ing skill OF a one-armed pilot. Col
onel w. G. Barker. V. G. D. S. o.. NJ.
c. Royal Air force. one Of the three
great Canadian airmen produced by
the war
IT was the first time the Prince OF
wales realty experienced the thrills
OF actual flying as 1t is done in war
time. He was at his express wish
given a taste OF every evolution per-
formed in the air, and liked it
Everything Colonel Barker had in
his repertore-and the "Canuck" is
noted in the Royal Air force as one
of its star ''fippers''--was dished out
TO the royal passenger. and when they
were all through he clamored for
more.
Colonel Barker. by the way. has
seventeen decorations. and won his
| victoria cross when he brought down
sixteen Huns in one fight In all, he
Is credited with meEethan fifty enemy
machines and unofficially has ac-
| counted for many more. His left arm
Is permanently disabled as a result of
wounds received in his last battle,
ana ne hes with it strapped to his
| breast
The spectacle of the Prince. Of
/ Wales as a passenger in a stunning
| plane attracted scores Of people to the
! Hounslow aerodrome near London,
where the flight took place. They
were we'll repaid for their curiosity.
| Besides seeing the heir to the throne
in position where the least tremor
on the part of the pilot would have
resulted in serious injury, if not
death. they were treated with one of
the best exhibitions of trick flying
ever performed in England.
/ The prince elm bed into the cock
pit OF the machine Immediately after
Colonel Barker had descended from
trial fight. Contact" was given
the machine was TAXED across the
aerodome and lifted off the ground
A succession of quick loops near the
ground gave the spectators and the
prince their first thrill A couple OF
quick left and right turns followed
by roll" in which the machine ac-
tually flies upside down. were the
next stunts in order. The roll" is
one Of the most difficult evolutions
known to airmen and is only at.
tempted by highly skilled pilots.
A succession of Immelman turns
sideslips, climbing turns. stallns
turns and dives at a height of abou,
1000 feet evolved into a series OF
! spiral glides and the machine swoop-
ed down near the earth.
But the prince wasn't through and
shouted to the pilot to continue il
was the signal for a steep climb and
| the little machine shot straight UT
until 1t seemed to hang on It's pro-
pellor. Its nose went down. the ma
chine gathered more speed and an.
other climb brought the craft at nearly
! thousand feet. Again It's nose went
down and the prince was treated te
the greatest thrill of ala SPINNING
nose dive
For more than 500 feet the machine
| fell in a series Of jerking turns, nose
pointing straight to earth and with
the engine shut off. The shrek OF
j the wind on the struts and wires was
plainly heard by the spectators or
| the ground Just as 1t appeared az
| II the inevitable crash was about
/ to happen, the pilot gave her the
! gun" fattened out and landed as
| lightly as feather
! The princes face was a study as
he carefully clambered out of his
seat and dragged off his helmet He
stood for a few moments pensively
| gazing at the fragile craft. Then he
turned to his pilot.
| 1T was great SPORT" he said II
| liked 1t immensely But ugh what
| a sensation when one first loops the
! loop"