Page 110 - KBHA Bulletin 10

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from the engine and all was still.” (Cape Times, 27/12/1911). (Figs. 3.12 & 3.13).
Paterson, miraculously, had survived the crash and was stretchered off to the nearby

New Somerset Hospital suffering from shock and bruising, but was otherwise uninjured.
From the plane only the Gnome engine and fuel tanks were worth saving, but as other

spare parts were to hand it was expected to have a new plane in the air within a few

days! Paterson would later explain that the severe wetting of the craft during the flight
to the Track, followed by the warm sunshine later, had caused the fabric to loosen from

the ribs and booms. When he took off it ballooned up from the framework forcing the
tail downwards and he had been unable to force the head of the machine down by using

the elevator. “I simply had to ……. close my eyes and wait for it. I simply had to close
the motor off and hold tight, for it is very bad policy to let go or try to jump from the

machine. It is best to allow the machine to touch the ground first, because it takes some

of the concussion. Unfortunately the machine turned upside down. I came down on my
back. It hurt, I can tell you.” (Cape Times, 11/1/1912).

Activity moved back to Kenilworth with the next attraction on Wednesday 27
December being the transport of mails between Kenilworth and Muizenberg. The

weather was dull, with gusting winds and rain, and so flying was delayed until 6 p.m.
that evening when the wind abated with the sinking sun. The Bleriot was wheeled to the

start point at the Cape Town end of the polo ground that has present Chukka Road as its

long boundary. After a 30 – 40 yard run Driver was airborne and, flying at nearly 60
mph, he arrived at Oldham’s Field eight miles away in seven-and-a-half minutes. He

touched down “as lightly as a butterfly” to the cheers of over a thousand people. One
mail bag addressed to the “Postmaster, Muizenberg” was taken off and given to Mr. P.

J. Hutchings, the Muizenberg Postmaster, while another addressed to the “Postmaster,

Kenilworth” was fastened to the back of the pilot’s seat. (Figs. 3.14 & 3.15). The return
flight took 12 minutes as Driver decided on a sweeping route from Muizenberg in the

direction of the Koeberg Mountains to avoid the turbulence near the Peninsula
Mountains. Around eight o’ clock the anxious crowd at Kenilworth picked him out

travelling at three thousand feet “moving at a tremendous rate of speed”. Opposite the