Aircraft - Aviation - Balloons - Helicopters
Oct. 10, 1971 - ANOTHER MAN FAILS TO FLY LIKE A BIRD ACROSS THE RIVER NENE AT PETERBOROUGH: The third man to try and fly like a bird across the river Nene, at Peterborough this morning failed once again. The man who tried was Kent draguhtsman 32 year old Bert Hansell of Allington Road, Paddock Wood. he was flying a machine built by Branbridge Flying Club The machine has a wing-span of 30ft, and there is a stabilising wing 12ft across in the front of that. The overall length is 12ft and the whole thing weighs about 100 lbs. To win the prize (which is a trophyand £5 worth of groceries a week for life, put up by Supermarket owner Frank Brierley), My Mansell must launch himself from the roof of the Supermarket, 30ft above the river Nene and reach the opposite bank 80 yards away by using flapping flight. Photo Shows: Bert Hansell takes off from the platform but instead of flying across the river Nene he went like a stone into the river
