Page:The Fun of It.pdf/221

Rh contrast between flying togs of that day and this as there is between the planes themselves. Miss Quimby’s costume material was purple satin. There were full bloomers reaching below the knee with high laced shoes below. She wore a blouse with long full sleeves and high collar buttoned tight around her neck. Her headgear as pictured in the old photographs resembles nothing so much as a monk’s cowl. Accessories were goggles and gaunt­lets and a long leather coat for cold weather flying.

We’re more fortunate in our clothing today. In an open cockpit plane it is sensible and comfortable to dress either in breeks of some sort or routine sport clothing of the season. In closed planes, any street costume will do, as there is no exposure.

Harriett Quimby was killed at a Boston air meet on July 1, 1912. She was flying her Bleriot mono­plane, one of the best performers of that day, but exceedingly unstable. From all accounts balance had to be maintained with a bag of sand placed at a specific point in the machine when there was no passenger. When there was, he or she had to sit immovable. A shift of this center of gravity, whether caused by the movement of the sand or the living ballast, meant disaster.

Apparently such a shift occurred at Boston. A Mr. Willard in charge of the meet flew with Har­riett Quimby. Toward the end of the flight at an altitude of two thousand feet he moved unduly, the monoplane gave a sharp dip and apparently went out of control. Willard’s body flew into the air