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Aviation History
1909
1909 - 0278.PDF
MAY 15, concern themselves with any actual desiening or construction of aeroplanes, and their principal functions will be the testing of special kinds of material suitable for aeroplanes and dirigible balloons, and the testing of any particular devices which may be submitted by other inventors, also the obtaining of a standard set of data, or tables, relating to such things as the thrust of propellers of different pitches. " For such laboratory work as the above, the Cotnmitte seems well constituted ; but the absence of aeronauts or men with practical experience would be found a weak point in its constitution should it at any time undertake the actual designing or construction of com- plete aeroplanes. " I think there is no doubt that it is now intended that ample funds shall be available for the work in this country." Mr. J. T. C. MOORE-BRABAZON :— '' The constitution of this body seems to contain the names of men who are eminent from a scientific point of view. Whether it will be possible for them to arrive at any practical results the future will alone decide. " If good wishes will do this body any good, then their success is assured. " The practical side of aeronautics is, in my opinion, as valuable as the scientific, therefore I hope that this Committee will keep its eyes open to the private endeavours that are being made in this country, and that, in the absence of the practical element on this body, they will keep themselves art courant with results attained at Sheppey." Mr. V. KER-SEYMER, Committee, Aero Club of the United Kingdom :— " The appointment of a committee composed of such diverse and profound scientific attainments leads one to suppose that their duties will be limited to matters of a purely theoretical nature. Should any other programme be contemplated, it is to be hoped that this Committee will co-opt someone possessing practical and first- hand knowledge of aviation as practised in other countries. A knowledge, and above all practical experience of the construc- tion and working of the petrol engine as applicable to airships and aeroplanes—by no means the least important factor in mechanical flight—is also most necessary, and in this respect the constitution of the newly-formed body appears somewhat lacking." Mr. STEPHEN A. MARPLES, Secretary of the Aerial League of the British Empire :— " From the purely national defence point of view of the advance of aerial navigation (as distinct from the industrial and sporting branches, which do not appear to come within the scope of the scheme). Lord Rayleigh's Special Committee is excellent as a first stage. " There are two sides to the question—the theoretical and the practical—which are mutually dependent upon each other for real progress. In the steps that have been taken, a start has been made on sound lines. The Committee form an excellent ' nucleus crew,' so to speak. It provides the skeleton of a system whereby research work can be properly co-ord mated and organised within a central institution, thus placing the matter upon a scientific and theoretical basis at the outset. Adequate funds, however, must be provided for acquiring the necessary machinery for conducting experiments, and for obtaining the assistance of practical men. " There are many questions which present themselves : Will the members of the Committee give their whole time to the work ? What amount of money is to be placed at their disposal ? Will they be empowered to carry out practical tests in full-sized machines ? " Upon these and other matters the answers to your inquiries almost entirely depend, and I hope that the authorities will shortly give further details. For the present, the fact that the Government recognise the supreme importance of theoretical and research work, which I have advocated for some time, is a considerable gain. The Government have put into the question the thin end of the wedge — public opinion must help to drive it home. The Aerial League will continue to be the motive power of public opinion on this particular branch of the subject." : Aerial League in Liverpool. ^ — •••"•/ ON Monday a very enthusiastic meeting, under the auspices of the Aerial League, was held in Liverpool. The chair was taken by the Lord Mayor, and he was supported by many prominent citizens, including Sir Alfred Jones, President of the Chamber of Com- merce. Addresses were delivered by the Lord Mayor, Col. Massy, Lady O'Hagan, and Mr. W. H. Lever. Wright Brothers in America Again. WHEN the Wright Brothers arrived at New York on Tuesday last they were met by a deputation from the American Aero Club and given a very warm welcome back to their native land. After attending a luncheon given by the Aero Club on the following day, they hastened to their home at Dayton, where they at once set to work to get ready the machines for the U.S. Government. It is hoped that the machines will be ready by the middle of June, and will probably be operated by Mr. Wilbur Wright. "Bleriot XIL" IN a fortnight, at the latest, M. Bleriot hopes to be able to take the air on his new monoplane " No. XII." This is a good deal larger than its immediate predecessor " No. XI," for it has a lifting surface of 22 sq. metres, while the length is 8*5 metres, and the spread of the wings 9"5 metres. The propeller will be 2*5 metres in diameter, and will be driven at 700 r.p.m. by a chain from a 35-h.p. water - cooled E.N.V. engine. The machine will weigh 80 kilogs. " light." At the rear end of the machine, in addition to a fixed horizontal plane, there will be a movable horizontal plane and the vertical rudder. M. Delagrange to Fly in Belgium. M. DELAGRANGE has made an agreement with the Liege-Spa Aero Club to carry out a series of flights on his Wright flyer on June nth, 12th, 13th, and 14th. The Club is now faced with the problem of finding a flying ground for him. It is possible that permission may be obtained to use the military plain at Bressoux, but, on the other hand, there is a strong feeling that the flights should be made in Brussels. . Wright Flyers in Germany. AMONG the rumours which are abroad as to the disposal of the Wright patents in Germany, is one to the effect that Captain Kcelher, who had several flights with Wilbur Wright at Rome, is endeavouring to secure the German patents at a cost of about ^20,000, for the Motorluftschiff Studien Gesellschaft, of which Herr Lee we is at the head. •-.- .... Wright Flyer for the War Office. A WRIGHT flyer should very soon be seen at Aldershot, for the Hon. C. S. Rolls has generously placed his machine at the disposal of the War Office. A shed is being erected for it by the military authorities, and a suitable ground for testing purposes has been provided. Lieut. Calderara's Accident, FROM further information which has been received from Rome, it would appear that the accident was caused by the officer becoming dizzy and relinquishing his hold of the controlling-levers. Bad weather had rendered it impossible for any experiments to be carried out on Tuesday and Wednesday of last week, but on the Thurs- day morning Lieut. Calderara, although he was not 280
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