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Aviation History
1909
1909 - 0003.PDF
JANUARY 2, 1909. The Lortet Prize. M. LORTET, of Tarbes, has offered a prize, consisting of an ingot of gold weighing 1 kilog., to the aviator who first starts from Tarbes and descends on certain property belonging to M. Lagarde, situated 10 kiloms. away. At the present price of bar gold the prize is worth about 3,400 francs. The Soule Prize. M. SOULE, who has already subscribed half of the prize offered by the town of Bagneres, has now given the Ligue Nationale Aerienne another personal prize of 2,000 francs, to be awarded to the first aviator who descends from an altitude of 500 metres, without using his engine, while following naturally sloping ground; in other words, the aviator must glide down the side of a mountain without touching earth. Flight Experiments in America. THE Aerial Experiment Association are continuing their experimental work in America, and have just com- pleted their fourth Iplane, which has been christened " Silver Dart." It follows very much the lines of the " June Bug," but is slightly smaller. The planes are 6 ft. across at the centre, where they are placed 6 ft. apart, diminishing to 4 ft. wide at the tips and 4 ft. apart. The spread of the wings, including the movable tips at each end, is 49 ft., and the total lifting area of the machine amounts to 420 sq. ft.; 15 ft. in front of the main planes there is a double elevating rudder, while at the rear—11 ft. from the main planes—is the single vertical rudder. The wooden propeller is also at the rear, is 8 ft. in diameter, and driven at a speed of 1,000 revs, per min. by an 8-cyl. Curties motor. At each end of the main planes are fitted movable triangular planes which are controlled by the swaying of the operator's body. These " wing tips " have a total area of 40 sq. ft. The '" June Bug " has now been slightly remodelled and mounted on pontoons, so that experiments may be conducted upon the water. During some recent tests The Kodak Company are ever up to date in their methods, and precedingthe Christmas Holiday their window in the Strand, reproduced in our photograph, was a centre of considerable attention. This was arrangedto represent the roof of a cottage, with Santa Claus just arrived by aero- plane laden with presents—naturally Kodak cameras—which he promptlypours down the recognised channel—the chimney. The "aeroplane" was the work of Mr. Chippendale. upon Lake Keuka at Hammondsport, N.Y., the mach'ne, now known as the "Loon," covered 2 miles (1 mile with and 1 against a wind of 5 or 6 miles an hour) at >n average speed of 27-06 miles per hour, but this was not sufficient to enable the apparatus to completely rise from the water. Further experiments are now being con- ducted with hydroplane hulls of various types. Airships and Wireless Telegraphy. . WITH the object of ascertaining whether the working of wireless telegraphy from airships would in any way prove a source of danger to the occupants, the German military authorities have recently been carrying out extensive experiments. Apparently the results have been entirely satisfactory, and show that no danger need be anticipated ; similar conclusions have, it is stated, already been arrived at by the French and Belgian authorities. Zeppelin Subscription. .'• ON December 24th the Zeppelin Subscription Fund was closed, with a total of over six million marks. Ballooning Home. ON Saturday last the Hon. C. S. Rolls gave an exhibition of the possibilities of ballooning by taking his mother, Lady Llangattock, home by balloon. The ascent was made at Monmouth in the balloon " Mercury," the occupants of the basket being Lady Llangattock, Hon. C. S. Rolls, Hon. Mrs. Assheton - Harbord, Mr. Claud Crompton, and Mr. Charles Freeman, and the balloon landed on the lawn in front of Lord Llangattock's house, The Hendre. After lunch the balloon again ascended, Lady Llangattock relinquishing her place to Mr. Benham Smith, and after crossing the mountains, the peaks of which were covered in clouds, the balloon was finally brought down at Blaenavon. All the ropes, &c, attached to the balloon were frozen. Monster Balloon Trip. MR. CARL FISHER and Mr. George Bumgaugh are, it is reported, arranging to cross the Atlantic from the eastern coast of America in a gigantic balloon. A feature of the experiment will be the carrying of supplementary ballonettes containing a reserve supply of gas for the purpose of replenishing the main envelope. A specially-designed boat is to take the place of the usual basket, and a small steamer will accompany the expedition to render aid in case of emergency. An experimental ascent was made recently with the " Columbia," of 40,000 cu. ft. capacity, with two 2,000 cu. ft. ballonettes attached. ' ^,, . Airy Hopes. LAST week, at the Shoreditch County Court, Judge Smyly met a rara avis—a creditor who did not wish to press a judgment summons. Such an extraordinary state of affairs demanded investigation, and it transpired that the plaintiff had been mollified by the fact that the debtor was interested in an airship invention, which he thought was " all right." The Judge seemed a little dubious, as a great many other people were interested in such patents, but in view of the optimistic view taken by the plaintiff the case was adjourned for a month. 5
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