AEROPLANE PARACHUTE.
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DESIGNER'S DEATH ON FIRST DESCENT.
How an aeroplane designer lost his life when carrying out trials with an invention to enable aeroplane pilots to descend in parachutes, should emergency arise, was described at an inquest held in Middlesex yesterday on Edwin Boyle (22) of Caterham-road, Upper Holloway. It was stated that Boyle had been an aeronautical enthusiast since the age of 12, and recently had been engaged in assisting to perfect a contrivance whereby pilots and observers might safely land from a machine while in flight, should an accident occur in mid-air.
Capt. Arthur Payze, Flight Commander, R.A.F., said that he and Boyle went up in an aeroplane for experimental purposes. When at a height of 400ft. he told Boyle to get out on the wing and sit on the specially-constructed platform. He had not done that before, as it was the first descent Boyle had attempted. "When he got to the right position I gave him the signal to let go. He was in front of me in the passenger seat. He went over the side in the ordinary way, but the parachute casing gave way with the parachute instead of remaining on the machine. This was caused by the breaking of a hook, and Boyle fell to the ground and was instantly killed."
Evidence was given that the hook had been tested to a ton dead load, and several tests had also been made with it by the manufacturers, and everything found to be satisfactory. A high tribute was paid to the ability of the deceased, in whose death the country had sustained, it was stated, a great loss.
The News of the World - Sunday, July 28, 1918
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