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Aviation History
1909
1909 - 0185.PDF
MARCH 27, 1909. heights the propellers found less resistance, and the decrease in oxygen affected the motors. Spherical balloons would always be an essential preliminary school for experiments with dirigibles. The "Bank" and Airships. Ax the meeting of the proprietors of the Bank of England, on Thursday of last week, a query was anxiously addressed to the chairman as to the vulnerability of the "old lady of Threadneedle Street" should an airship hover above the Bank of England, and, by way of announcing its presence, drop a projectile or two. Would the vaults holding the bullion be sufficiently strong to withstand such attentions ? The question proved too much for the chairman, who was unable to answer, as he confessed he was ignorant of the risk. An " expert " has since come to the rescue, however, and shown that the gold reserve of ^,40,000,000 would prove a somewhat awkward bundle of " swag" to fly away with. The weight of this amount of gold would be somewhere about 320 tons, and he estimates that it would require a fleet of 1,000 huge dirigibles, each capable of canning 1,000 pounds weight, and assuming each dirigible cost ^S!°oo> the capital involved in the predatory expe- dition would be about five million pounds. Further according to the expert, if aeroplanes were used, 4,000 would be required, as thty cannot carry much more than 250 lbs., and such* a huge fleet, he incidentally suggests, might find difficulty in obtaining garage accommodation just now. Another North Pole Expedition. COMMUNICATIONS have been received at Copen- hagen from Prof. Nitzsche, of Pennsylvania University, relating to a North Polar expedition, which is to leave Spitsbergen in July next. The expedition, it is stated, will consist of six persons with three balloons, or two balloons and a dirigible. Dirigible Shed at Frescati. Ax Frescati, near Mefcs, work is in progress on the construction of an enormous airship shed destined for the accomodation of German military dirigibles. Gordon'Bennett Balloon Race. lr is announced that the start of this race from Zurich has been definitely fixed for October 10th. GERMANY'S AIRSHIPS AND PARLIAMENT. ON Wednesday in the House of Commons, Mr. Lea asked the Prime Minister whether his attention had been drawn to the performance of the " Zeppelin I " on the 19th inst., when it carried twenty-six men during a four-hour trip ; whether he was aware that, according to official statements, the German Admiralty and War Office were now building, and would have in 1910, 24 such airships ; and could he assure the House that this matter was engaging the attention of our naval and military authorities. In reply, Mr. Asquith said that the whole question of aerial navigation has for some time past occupied the attention of the Defence Committee and of the Govern- ment, and provision has been made both in the Army and Navy Estimates which will ensure that the problems connected with the use of airships in maritime as well as in land warfare will be fully investigated by both the departments concerned. The Government have no official information that corroborates or otherwise the statement of fact contained in the question. A BRITISH " MICHELIN CUP.' As will be seen from the Aero Club official notes this week, and the letter hereunder, the Michelin Tyre Co. have made another magnificent offer for the encouragement of flight, this time in Great Britain. They have offered a Trophy, of a value of ^500, carrying with it a sum of ^500 annually for five years. The competition for this new prize will be limited to British subjects manipulating a British-built machine. The control is entirely in the hands of the Aero Club of the United Kingdom, who are now drawing up the regulations, which wilK be published as scon as possible. The following is the full text of the letter from the Michelin Tyre Co., addressed to the Aero Club of the United .Kingdom, making the offer :— The prizes offered by Messrs. Michelin et Cie. have been the cause of such undoubted progress in the science and practice of aviation in France, that we have come to the conclusion that by offering a cup for flying machines heavier-than-air the Michelin Tyre Co. would contribute in a very large measure to the develop- ment of aviation in this country. The connection between aviation and automobilism is greater than it appears to be at first sight. If the development of aviation is advanced, the manufacturers are led to build lighter engines, and the reduction in the weight of the cars would result in a reduction in the cost of automobilism, and, in consequence, increase its popularity. This has always been the first aim of each Michelin Company, in whatever country it has been established. For this reason, we have decided to offer a Trophy, represented by a work of art, of, the total value of ^500, which will carry with it annually a sum of .£500 for a term of five years. This Cup will be known as the "English Michelin Cup,'; and will be competed for under the following conditions : Prior to April 30th in each year, your Club should draft, settle, and issue the conditions of the competition to be open until March 31st of the following year ; you should then determine the length and conformation of the course, which should be a closed circuit, the character and dimensions of the curves, the ascensional heights and other general regulations for governing and controlling the conduct of each attempt. The conditions should be approved by the Michelin Tyre Co. The holder of the Cup for the first year shall be the aviator who, before sunset on March 31st, 1910, shall have flown the greatest distance, on a course established in the United Kingdom in accord- ance with the conditions laid down. The distance in each succeeding year to provide a record should be double that of the record established by the previous winner, until the total distance covered has reached 250 miles. Thereafter, the Club will decide with the Michelin Tyre Co. upon the conditions which shall subsequently obtain. The Michelin Tyre Co., being a British concern, with established works in this country, we make it an essential condition that the Cup can only be won by a Brit6n, manipulating a British-made machine. We shall be happy to place the said Trophy in the hands of your Club. It will remain the Club's property. The holder of the annual Cup will receive a facsimile of the Trophy, together with a sum of £500, which will be paid to him within thirty days after the confirmation of his record by the Club. Should the Cup not be won in any one year, the ^500 endowment of that year shall be added to that of the year following. The trials will be held under the control of the Aero Club of the United Kingdom. J87
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