'The Wright brothers succee|cled in giving man his wings" MICHAEL J H TAYLOR GREATMOMENTS KAKIIZAS AVIATION Aviation has probably been responsible for the greatest change to peoples' lives this century. Aircraft for the first time took battle fronts to heavily populated inland cities that were many miles from where armies fought and even gave the first means by which mankind could destroy itself using atomic weapons. Conversely, modern airliners have broughtforeign countries and even distant continents to within a few hours' reach of ordinary folk. Whether it was for one of these reasons, or food eaten that might have been sprayed by an agricultural aircraft, an air-sea rescue, the taxes paid that were used in parttofund extraordinary national aerospace programs, or one of a myriad of other possibilities, aviation has touched us all. But flying is not new. Man first ascended in artificial flight on 15 October 1783. And even powered airplane flying did not begin with the Wright brothers in 1 903 as is so often supposed, butthe Wrights were responsible for developing and demonstrating the first airplane capable of being controlled and one that could remain airborne for a reasonable length of time. To such innovators went international fame and places in the history books. But once flying was well established, it was those men and woman that accomplished remarkable feats in aircraft who stole the headlines. This book tells some of those incredible stories, the heroism and the danger. It encompasses a period of nearly 200 years, from an attempt to fly the Irish Sea by balloon in 1 785 to the first rescue in space. Between are hazardous flights across inhospitable oceans and over the frozen wastes of the Poles, courageous deeds in battle, the roar of air racing and the courage that first took a man through the sound barrier, plus other historic events that changed our world. GREATMOMENTS IN AVIATION This book was devised and produced by Multimedia Books Ltd Editor: Linda Osband Design: Richard Can: Strange Design Associates Production: Zivia Desai Copyright © Multimedia Books Ltd/Michael Taylor First published in the United States of America in 1989 by Mallard Press Mallard Press and its accompanying design and logo are trade marks of BDD Promotional Book Company, Inc. All rights reserved No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher and the copynght holders, ISBN 0-792-45039-6 Typeset by O'Reilly Clark, London Ongmation by Imago Publishing Limited Printed in Italy by Imago Publishmg Limited I GREATMOMENTS AVIATION MICHAEL J H TAYLOR MALLARD PRESS >^^i^ CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 7 1 FIRST KNIGHT OF THE AIR 8 2 THE FLYER FLIES 12 3 A MOST IMPORTANT LANDING 18 4 WARNEFORD VC 26 5 RACING THE WAVES 30 6 TO THE FROZEN ENDS OF THE EARTH 38 7 LINDBERGH AND THE ATLANTIC CHALLENGE 42 MIDWAY 50 9 DESPERATE MEASURES 58 10 GLAMOROUS GLENNIS AND THE X PLANES 64 11 RESCUE IN SPACE 70 INDEX 78 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 80 Tt Moments in Avialic 1 FIRST KNIGHT OF THE AIR History is full of stories of raw courage and daring. Little progress in flying could have been made without that special breed of men and women willing to risk their fortunes, reputations or lives in the pursuance of the science. Names such as Orville and Wilbur Wright, Louis Bleriot, Charles Lindbergh and Neil Armstrong are emblazoned, yet these are few among the countless heroes and heroines of the air whose adventures have largely been forgotten to popular legend. FirslKnighloflheAii Left Model representation of the man ever to tly in a tethered Montgolfier hot-air balloon which, balloon, on 15 October 1783. on 21 November 1783. carried (United States Air Force Museunn. Francois Pilatre de Rozier and the Ohio). Marquis d'Arlandes on the very Below first aerial journey. This epic Richard Crosbie ascending from ascent took place just 37 days Ranelagh Gardens on 1 9 January after de Rozier became the first 1785 At the very dawn of tlying, indeed only a mere 19 months after Frangois Pilatre de Rozier had become the very first man to fly in a tethered Montgolfier hot-air balloon, one such hero appeared. Then, having had his day, he quietlyslipped away from memory. He was Richard McGwire, the first Knight of the air. The setting was Ireland. The year 1784. The story began with Richard Crosbie, without whom McGwire would have remained pedestrian. Crosbie was a larger than life figure, well over 6 foot tall, overweight and good-hearted. From an aristocratic family, he had served with the Army but resigned his commission probably as the result of an inadequate independent income. Now he had new ambitions, not only to fly but to make money from it. What had inspired this highly unusual and dangerous venture is not certain, although on 15 April that year Mr Rosseau and a boy had flown from Dublin to Ratoath in an amazingly successful one-and-a-half hour balloon journey, an event Crosbie must have been at least aware of. Not a man to waste time, he set about trying to solve what was, in fact, an unsoluble problem, namely how to steer a balloon in flight and navigate it in a direction other than that dictated by the wind. In a series of experiments he tested the effects of various surfaces in flowing water, successfully concluding that any control of a balloon would be at best marginal. As the gas balloon was a known entity, he concentrated his main efforts on the gondola. Light weight.was essential, and the 'hull' of the boat- like gondola was constructed of linen or silk over a wooden frame. For power and control three systems were built into the design, comprising a large aft rudder, sails on two separate masts to which was also attached the cloth retaining the gas envelope, and two four-sail windmills that could be rotated by hand for manual propulsion. Named Aerunautic Chariot, it was exhibited at Ranelagh Gardens, Dublin, in August 1784, The Aeroiuiulic Chariot probably never flew, but it is recorded that the hydrogen gas balloon from it was inflated and flew tethered on several occasions before finally being released carrying an animal passenger, Montgolfier fashion. It came down near the coast ol the Isle of Man. What was to follow these successes needed tobc spectacular. It was! The final weeks of 1784 were spent on a new and larger balloon, which was completed in early January of the following year. With a conventional basket connected by ropes to the gav envelope, it made no pretence of artificial control. Crosbie put il on public exhibition at Ranelagh Gardens — the starting-point for his planned and perilous crossing of the Irish Sea that was to be attempted on the lOth — charging a shilling admission fee. As an early aviation entrepreneur, this gave him both publicity and cash. But bad weather forced postponement until the 19th. Great Moments in Avj On 19 January 178.5 a crowd of .^.>-4(l.()l)0 attended the lift-off. would be dark for the perilous sea crossing, he opened the gas The advance publicity had done well and much money had valve and executed a controlled descent to alight at Clontarf. To changed hands. The assembled masses on the lawn of the stately see the rare sight of a man flyingat all had thrilled the crowd, and home gave the event the atmosphere of a vast garden parly, with Crosbie was carried as a hero to the residence of Lord the highly decorated balloon held between two high tethering Charlemont. one of the appointed organizers of the event. poles forming the centerpiece. The Army attended to ensure By 12 May Crosbie had readied a second attempt, using the control. A showman at heart, and like a prophet of the future. Palatine Square of the Dublin barracks as the starling-point. He the smiling Crosbie boarded the balloon in the early afternoon. was clearly confident of success, perhaps several limes as sure, as He had dressed for the occasion. Over a wrinkled waistcoat that each spectator had to part with five shillings to watch. At his ebbed and flowed around his large stomach and satin breeches signal the restraining ropes were released. To his horror the stretched tight to his thighs, was carried a long oiled silk coat, balloon refused to lift. Ballast and scientific apparatus were Right lined and edged in fur. Fancy red boots came up to his calves, and removed to lighten the load. Somewhat reluctantly the balloon Fearless volunteer balloonist on his wig sat an ornate leopard fur hat. He was. indeed, an ascended a little and began drifting towards houses, skimming Richard McGwire is dragged from aeronaut, for nobody else dressed like this! their chimneys before thumping to the ground. The crowd the sea after his balloon crashed, But there was a serious side to Crosbie. and in the gondola became alarmed, but Crosbie was unhurt. 12 1785. Fortunately. Lord May were various apparatus for scientific use. To tumultuous Not wanting to cancel the money-making event, perhaps even Henry Fitzgerald lin boat to right). cheering, the balloon was released and ascended skyward to the dreading the likely consequences. Crosbie (the entrepreneur) Mr Oliver and Mr Thornton had clouds. Within minutes it had passed from view. The wind took asked if there was a volunteer among the crowd of lighter weight dispatched rescue craft.