Old Hong Kong-5 — Page 29

Old Hong Kong 昔日香港 All AI Reviewed

COLONY'S EARLY AVIATION

continuation)

In its issue of March 24, the S.C.M. Post refers to an alarming mishap:-

"Mr. Van den Born, the aviator, gave an exhibition flight at Shatin yesterday afternoon. In the presence of a considerable number of people he rose beautifully to a height of from 200 to 300 feet, and performed several evolutions. He had intended rising higher, but experienced contrary winds. Flying over the railway station, Mr. Van den Born endeavoured to land in front of the hangar and upon observing this, a large number of those present, the majority of whom were school children from Queen's College and other institutions, rushed to the spot. Seeing the danger of a collision and possibly injury to some of the more reckless of the spectators, Mr. Van den Born, with great presence of mind (for he was travelling at considerable speed), swerved his machine clear. This left him too little distance in which to make for the shed, and the result was a collision in which the forepart of the machine was considerably crumpled. No injury resulted to the motor, fortunately, and Mr. Van den Born himself escaped with but a few slight bruises.

On March 27 he again made several successful ventures into the air - aviation was an accomplished fact in the Colony.

The airman then went on to Canton, and gave a most successful exhibition there in April.

This closes the Old Hongkong aviation series for the time being, but be it noted the Colony was early in the field so far as flying goes. Ascents by heavier-than-air machines were still a novelty all over the world, and it was within a few years of the Wrights and Bleriot, that local residents were introduced to the new science.

The last three articles have shown how Hongkong was given the opportunity of becoming "air-minded" early in the day.

12. With the advent of aeroplanes the former thrills of balloon ascents lost their appeal and such stunts became old-fashioned. The last balloon ascent in the Colony of any note took place in 1910, little more than a year before the first aeroplane flight witnessed here. We might, however, take note of that event of just over twenty-five years ago.

A previous article (see 16-5-34) reported the successful balloon flight and parachute descent in 1891 of a pioneer aeronaut named Baldwin, the man who passed through Hongkong twenty years later, as one of the pioneer aviators with flying machines.

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28 COLONY'S EARLY AVIATION 3 continuation) In its issue of March 24, the S.C.M. Post refers to an alarming mishap:- "Mr. Van den Born, the aviator, gave an exhibition flight at Shatin yesterday afternoon. In the presence of a considerable number of people he rose beautifully to a height of from 200 to 300 feet, and performed several evolutions. He had intended rising higher, but experienced contrary winds. Flying over the railway station, Mr. Van den Born endeavoured to land in front of the hangar and upon observing this, a large number of those present, the majority of whom were school children from Queen's College and other institutions, rushed to the spot. Seeing the danger of a collision and possibly injury to some of the more reckless of the spectators, Mr. Van den Born, with great presence of mind (for he was travelling at considerable speed), swerved his machine clear. This left him too little distance in which to make for the shed, and the result was a collision in which the forepart of the machine was considerably crumpled. No injury resulted to the motor, fortunately, and Mr. Van den Born himself escaped with but a few slight bruises. On March 27 he again made several successful ventures into the air - aviation was an accomplished fact in the Colony. The airman then went on to Canton, and gave a most successful exhibition there in April. This closes the Old Hongkong aviation series for the time being, but be it noted the Colony was early in the field so far as flying goes. Ascents by heavier-than-air machines were still a novelty all over the world, and it was within a few years of the Wrights and Bleriot, that local residents were introduced to the new science. The last three articles have shown how Hongkong was given the opportunity of becoming "air-minded" early in the day. 12. With the advent of aeroplanes the former thrills of balloon ascents lost their appeal and such stunts became old-fashioned. The last balloon ascent in the Colony of any note took place in 1910, little more than a year before the first aeroplane flight witnessed here. We might, however, take note of that event of just over twenty-five years ago. A previous article (see 16-5-34) reported the successful balloon flight and parachute descent in 1891 of a pioneer aeronaut named Baldwin, the man who passed through Hongkong twenty years later, as one of the pioneer aviators with flying machines.

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28 COLONY'S EARLY AVIATION 3 continuation ) In its issue of March 24, the S. C. M. Post refers to an ulerming mishap:- "Mr. Van den Born the aviator, gave an exhibition fliat at Shatin yesterday afternoon. In the presence of a considerable number of people he rose beautifully to haight of from 200 to 300. feet, and performed several ovo- lutions. He had int eded rising higher, but experienced contrary winds. Flying over the railway station. Mr. Van len vorn endeavoured to land in front of the hangar undi apon observing this, a large number of those present the majority of whom were school childre from Queen's College and other institutions rushed to the spot. Seeing the dun- er of a collision and possibly injury to some of the more Feckless of the spectators, Mr. Van den born with great presence of mind for he was travelling at consider ble speed) swerved his machine clear. This left him too listle distance in which to make for the shed, and the result w 3 a collision in which the forepart of the machine was consi- derably crumpled. No injury resulted to the motor fortunately and Mr. Van den. Born himself escaped with but a few sli ht bruises. On March 27 he again made several successful ventur es _nto the air - avaition was an accomplished fact in the Solony The airmaan then went on to Canton, and gave a mos- suc- cesful exhibition there in April. This closes the Old Hongkong aviation series for the time being but be it noted the Colony was eurly # in the 事 field It so far as flying goes. Ascents by heavier-than-uir machines were atill a novelty all over the world, and it was within a few years of the Wrights fad Bleriot, that local residents were introduced to the new science, The last three articles have shown how Hongkong was iven the opportunity of becoming" air-minded "early in 12. With the advent of aeroplanes the former thrills of lloon ascents lost their appeal and such stunts became old ushioned. The last balloon ascent in the Colony of any Lote took place in 1910, little more than a year before the first ueroplane flight witnessed herow. We might, however, take note of that event of just over twenty five years ago. A previous artilce (see 16-5-34 ) reported the suc- cessful ballon flight and parachute descent in 1891 6f a pioneer aeromaut named Baldwin the man who passed through Hongkong twenty years later, as one of the pioneer aviators ith glying machines.

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COLONY'S EARLY AVIATION

continuation )

In its issue of March 24, the S. C. M. Post refers to an ulerming mishap:-

"Mr. Van den Born the aviator, gave an exhibition fliat at Shatin yesterday afternoon. In the presence of a considerable number of people he rose beautifully to

haight of from 200 to 300. feet, and performed several ovo- lutions. He had int eded rising higher, but experienced contrary winds. Flying over the railway station. Mr. Van len vorn endeavoured to land in front of the hangar undi apon observing this, a large number of those present the majority of whom were school childre from Queen's College and other institutions rushed to the spot. Seeing the dun- er of a collision and possibly injury to some of the more Feckless of the spectators, Mr. Van den born with great presence of mind for he was travelling at consider ble speed) swerved his machine clear. This left him too listle distance in which to make for the shed, and the result w 3 a collision in which the forepart of the machine was consi- derably crumpled. No injury resulted to the motor fortunately and Mr. Van den. Born himself escaped with but a few sli ht bruises.

On March 27 he again made several successful ventur es _nto the air - avaition was an accomplished fact in the Solony

The airmaan then went on to Canton, and gave a mos- suc- cesful exhibition there in April.

This closes the Old Hongkong aviation series for the time being but be it noted the Colony was eurly #

in the

事

field It so far as flying goes. Ascents by heavier-than-uir machines were atill a novelty all over the world, and it was within a few years of the Wrights fad Bleriot, that local residents were introduced to the new science,

The last three articles have shown how Hongkong was iven the opportunity of becoming" air-minded "early in

12. With the advent of aeroplanes the former thrills of lloon ascents lost their appeal and such stunts became old ushioned. The last balloon ascent in the Colony of any Lote took place in 1910, little more than a year before the first ueroplane flight witnessed herow. We might, however, take note of that event of just over twenty five years ago.

A previous artilce (see 16-5-34 ) reported the suc- cessful ballon flight and parachute descent in 1891 6f a pioneer aeromaut named Baldwin the man who passed through Hongkong twenty years later, as one of the pioneer aviators

Old Hong Kong-5 — Page 29

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