Skegness Magazine

Skegness Councillor’s Giddy Flight

Source: Skegness Herald 1913

After we had gone to press last Wednesday afternoon, Coun George Ball took a trip with Mr B C Hucks in his monoplane.
(Picture right: C B Hucks in his monoplane during the ‘war years’.)
Leaving the flying ground about 4.30, Mr Hucks ascended with his passenger to a height of 1,000 feet and then thrilled the crowd with a magnificent spiral volplane.
“It was a sensation worth £50″, Coun Ball told the Skegness Herald, “and I’d like to go again. It was so strange that I hadn’t time to take my observations as I should have liked.What I remember distinctly was passing over the old churchyard; the gravestones looked so peculiar. That was the first time I began to realise the direction we were travelling in. Then we went out over the sea, and the Pier did look a poor tiny object indeed!”

Was there much wind?

Oh, the wind was terrific. I had goggles on, but when I turned my face sideways, it came at me in a perfect gale.

Was there much noise from the engine?

Rather, the engine and wind made a tremendous noise. The best part was when Mr Hucks switched off his engine to descend. Everything suddenly seemed so peaceful.

Were you giddy at all?

Once, only once, when I was looking down over the side, but I looked up at the sky and the feeling soon disappeared.

What did the earth look like?

Well, it was very funny indeed; everything seemed so small. People on the flying ground seemed so tiny, and the sea appeared like a big hard rock.

Of course, you could see all of the streets?

Oh, yes, perfectly; it was a splendid view of the town.

Among the passengers Mr Hucks took up was a gentleman visitor – Mr Seven – who was so delighted with his experience that he had a second trip the following day.His two sons also went up together.

Messers C Rowley, H Burley and daughter Aimes, Miss Abson etc were also passengers.

On Thursday afternoon the aviator made a descent on the beach with a passenger, thousands of visitors watching with great interest.

Mr Hucks brought his three days exhibition to a close on Thursday night with a sensational flight after dark. The huge machine flying low over the town produced a weird effect, but Mr Hucks accomplished his flight without any difficulty, and alighted safely, amid the plaudits of the crowd.

A firework display concluded the proceeding.

Skegness Town Band was in attendance each day, and played up-to-date programmes of music.

More about Hucks’ visit to Skegness coming soon.

LORD DESBOROUGH MAKES FLIGHT WITH MR HUCKS
1914 – 1918
Footage of aviator shaking hands with General Smuts before taking off in aircraft. password = skegness