Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 5, 2013 22:56:44 GMT 12
"JUST LOVELY!"
From the Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13293, 31 January 1914, Page 4
"JUST LOVELY!"
HOW IT FEELS TO BE 1800 ft. UP IN THE AIR.
MISS ESMEE McLELLAN'S EXPERIENCE.
(Special to Herald.) AUCKLAND, this day.
What it feels like to be 1800ft up in the air was told to a Star representative by Miss Esmee McLellan, of the Royal Pantomime Company, who has the distinction of being the first woman to make a successful aeroplane flight in New Zealand.
On Wednesday afternoon Miss McLellan went up with Lieut. Hammond in the Government aeroplane Britannia, and for nearly half an hour had the unique, experience of soaring round above the city and suburbs
"What was it like?" said Miss McLellan. "Well,, it was like just nothing I've every experienced before, 'and so it is quite hard to tell a real story about it. Mr Hammond is staying at the same hotel, and I had expressed a wish to go up if ever he felt inclined to take a passenger. Tho aviater was not quite sure about the Britannia when it came to carrying a passenger, however, and he would make no promise. On. Wednesday I went out with others of our party, after visiting the Exhibition, to see Mr Hammond fly. It was an absolute surprise to me when he said 'I'll take a passenger, will you come?' I didn't wait to be asked twice, and at once got into the passenger's seat. I honestly' didn't feel the least wee bit nervous. On the contrary the feeling I was most conscious of was one of pleasurable excitement, and do you know the first feeling, once away, was how simple and safe it all was."
"I'd somehow pictured aviators as having to be tied in or having to hold on tight. On the Britannia. I never even thought about being frightened or of being anything else but comfortable and pleased.The machine left the ground so easily, and we mounted into the air so naturally, that it somehow seemed to actually inspire confidence. It is surprisingly difficult to analyse how what my sensations were. I only know that I was wonderfully elated, and that I just enjoyed every moment of it. From your volcanic cones I have often looked out over Auckland and thought it the loveliest place in the world but viewed from an aeroplane, at a height of nearly 2000 feet, it was like a glimpse of something almost unreal. The city itself looked big enough, but the houses and the people seemed like those Gulliver must have met with on his famous travels."
"We were travelling faster than have travelled in the fastest express train, but there was not even the slightest vibration, nor was there any sensation that was other than entirely pleasant. When we can actually journey from one place to another without the fatigue of train travelling or the drawbacks of a sea voyage, how delightful it is going to be. When we descended it was all just equally simple, and apparently equally easy. Coming down the water chute'at the Exhibition only two hours before, my friends had teased me because I was actually scared. Coming down to earth from the skies on the Britannia never gave me one nervous thought. We landed as skilfully and as easily as we went up.
"I'm sorry I can't describe my experience in more graphic terms, but I'm a woman, and I can best express myself when I use a woman's phrase, and simply say it was 'just lovely.' I was more elated while in the air than I think I've ever been about any first night success at the theatre, and I really think I'm more excited about it now when it's all over than I was while actually in the air."
The machine was in the air for about 20 minutes. In recognition of the event Miss McLellan (who is a member of the Royal Pantomime Company at present appearing m Auckland) was presented during an interval in the performance that evening with a Handsome bouquet, and the goggles and cap which she wore during the flight with Lieutenant Hammond.
From the Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13293, 31 January 1914, Page 4
"JUST LOVELY!"
HOW IT FEELS TO BE 1800 ft. UP IN THE AIR.
MISS ESMEE McLELLAN'S EXPERIENCE.
(Special to Herald.) AUCKLAND, this day.
What it feels like to be 1800ft up in the air was told to a Star representative by Miss Esmee McLellan, of the Royal Pantomime Company, who has the distinction of being the first woman to make a successful aeroplane flight in New Zealand.
On Wednesday afternoon Miss McLellan went up with Lieut. Hammond in the Government aeroplane Britannia, and for nearly half an hour had the unique, experience of soaring round above the city and suburbs
"What was it like?" said Miss McLellan. "Well,, it was like just nothing I've every experienced before, 'and so it is quite hard to tell a real story about it. Mr Hammond is staying at the same hotel, and I had expressed a wish to go up if ever he felt inclined to take a passenger. Tho aviater was not quite sure about the Britannia when it came to carrying a passenger, however, and he would make no promise. On. Wednesday I went out with others of our party, after visiting the Exhibition, to see Mr Hammond fly. It was an absolute surprise to me when he said 'I'll take a passenger, will you come?' I didn't wait to be asked twice, and at once got into the passenger's seat. I honestly' didn't feel the least wee bit nervous. On the contrary the feeling I was most conscious of was one of pleasurable excitement, and do you know the first feeling, once away, was how simple and safe it all was."
"I'd somehow pictured aviators as having to be tied in or having to hold on tight. On the Britannia. I never even thought about being frightened or of being anything else but comfortable and pleased.The machine left the ground so easily, and we mounted into the air so naturally, that it somehow seemed to actually inspire confidence. It is surprisingly difficult to analyse how what my sensations were. I only know that I was wonderfully elated, and that I just enjoyed every moment of it. From your volcanic cones I have often looked out over Auckland and thought it the loveliest place in the world but viewed from an aeroplane, at a height of nearly 2000 feet, it was like a glimpse of something almost unreal. The city itself looked big enough, but the houses and the people seemed like those Gulliver must have met with on his famous travels."
"We were travelling faster than have travelled in the fastest express train, but there was not even the slightest vibration, nor was there any sensation that was other than entirely pleasant. When we can actually journey from one place to another without the fatigue of train travelling or the drawbacks of a sea voyage, how delightful it is going to be. When we descended it was all just equally simple, and apparently equally easy. Coming down the water chute'at the Exhibition only two hours before, my friends had teased me because I was actually scared. Coming down to earth from the skies on the Britannia never gave me one nervous thought. We landed as skilfully and as easily as we went up.
"I'm sorry I can't describe my experience in more graphic terms, but I'm a woman, and I can best express myself when I use a woman's phrase, and simply say it was 'just lovely.' I was more elated while in the air than I think I've ever been about any first night success at the theatre, and I really think I'm more excited about it now when it's all over than I was while actually in the air."
The machine was in the air for about 20 minutes. In recognition of the event Miss McLellan (who is a member of the Royal Pantomime Company at present appearing m Auckland) was presented during an interval in the performance that evening with a Handsome bouquet, and the goggles and cap which she wore during the flight with Lieutenant Hammond.
