Page 109 - KBHA Bulletin 10

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For Boxing Day activity shifted to Green Point Track.

Cape Times: 27 December, 1911.
FLIGHT TO THE TRACK
On Christmas Day Paterson beat the record which he set up on Saturday. He
flew from Kenilworth to Green Point by a circuitous route, and was in the air for exactly
thirty-five minutes. The morning was dull and rainy, and there was a breeze blowing,
the saving quality about it being that it was steady. The highest level which he reached
on the way was 2,000 feet, but striking an average for the whole journey the altitude
was 1,500 feet.
The pilot started from the Racecourse at half-past seven on Monday morning.
He rose quickly and easily and soon gained a level of 1,500 feet to 2,000 feet. He set a
course towards the Koeberg Mountains, then checked progress in that direction and
swung across the Bay. Flying at a height of two thousand feet over the water he passed
through two huge banks of cloud and got wet to the skin. He was moving in one bank
for nearly two minutes. Nearing the City the roar of the engine attracted the attention of
early risers, who stared up in wonderment at the daring flyer as he emerged from the
shelter of the clouds.

Paterson then turned for the Castle, which he encircled at a height of about a
thousand feet. Here his presence was noticed by the soldiers, who rushed out and gave
him a big cheer, the pilot responding by waving his hand. The machine was then steered
for Green Point, people along the route, attracted by the noise of the engine, rushing out
of doors to stare up in amazement. He then moved across the housetops to Three
Anchor Bay Lighthouse, which he rounded, eventually flying to the Track and alighting
without the slightest difficulty. It was his record stay in the air. The Bleriot, owing to
the lateness of the hour, was conveyed to the Track by wagon.

On Boxing Day only about one thousand spectators entered the Track, where the planes

would take off and land, but it was estimated that ten thousand were on the Common
and large numbers were on the slopes of Signal Hill. The weather was not promising

and Captain Livingston described the Track as a “death trap”. Driver was also

pessimistic and was in favour of flying back to Kenilworth. But Paterson decided to go
aloft. He took off in the direction of Sea Point, was airborne after 30 yards, and then

clear of the Track and just above the trees bordering the sports ground – when the
accident happened. A violent gust of wind struck the left hand plane causing the craft to

somersault into the ground. “Down it came with a sickening crash, the parts being piled
in a heap. There was a splintering of woodwork, a snapping of steel wires, a great bang