Jasper County Democrat, Volume 16, Number 101, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 March 1914 — After “Looping the Loop” Air Man Defies Death; Genius of Aviation Solved [ARTICLE]

A fter “Looping the Loop” Air Man Defies Death; Genius of Aviation Solved

By LINCOLN BEACHEY,

Aviator

demonstrated the possibilities of aviation more than three thousand times. I wa 4 - unable, however, to SOLVE THE GENII' S 01* A\ lATJON until I had “looped the loop,” which feat 1 accomplished with my aeroplane for the first time Nov. 24, 1913, over San Diego bay. California, flying from the grounds of the government aviation school on North island, where is stationed the First Aero corps, attached to the signal service. THE. SILENT REAPER OF SOULS AND 1 SHOOK HANDS THAT DAY. THOUSANDS OF TIMES WE HAVE ENGAGED IN A RACE AMONG THE CLOUDS—PLUNGING HEADLONG IN BREATHLESS FLIGHTDIVING AND CIRCLING WITH AWFUL SPEED THROUGH ETHEREAL SPACE. AND, MANY A TIME, WHEN THE DAZZLING SUNLIGHT HAS BLINDED MY EYES AND SUDDEN DARKNESS HAS NUMBED ALL MY SENSES. I HAVE IMAGINED HIM CLOSE AT MY HEELS. ON SUCH OCCASIONS I HAVE DEFIED HIM, BUT, IN SO DOING. HAVE EXPERIENCED FRIGHT WHICH I CANNOT EXPLAIN. TODAY THE OLD FELLOW ANb I ARE PALS. The instant we had completed the “loop” together J decided 1 would fear him no more. It whs then that man’s courage, coupled with an invention of science, had finally solved the deep mystery which through ages has surrounded the flights of the birds. »