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Aviation History
1909
1909 - 0376.PDF
JUNE 26, 1909. " Most of the fundamental principles of the heavier-than- air systems, which everyone recognises will be the final solution of aerial navigation, have been elucidated by Britons. For instance, superposed surfaces which are embodied in the aeroplane of the Brothers Wright, were proposed by Wenham in this country, and to some extent experimented by him as long ago as 1866; the investi- gation of the upper air, now done all the world over, and which has such an important bearing on aerial navigation, was initiated by Glaisher. In more modern times Great Britain has still been to the fore with the best material for airship construction in her specially-prepared goldbeater's skin envelope. The method of compressing and storing gas in steel cylinders for filling balloons—the speediest method—was devised and developed in this country, and the production of hydrogen by electrolysis, though perhaps first forecasted in France, has been brought to a high state of efficiency over here. Multiple examples of the development of principles for the heavier-than-air in this country might also be cited. Thus it becomes evident that what has happened has been this :— " Being a practical people, we early recognised that the final word in aerial navigation must be the heavier-than- air ; consequently we directed our efforts to elucidating its principles; we did not trouble about the navigable balloon or airship because we saw its limitations, and and that it was a phase ; consequently, again, we under- valued its use as a temporary expedient, and other nations less practical and foreseeing have not done so. Now we realise that for political and patriotic, if not for scientific purposes, we must be content for a time with an imperfect instrument and must develop it as our neighbours have done. Now we see that the aluminium- cased 17 balloons of a Zeppelin may work havoc and devastation, that the perhaps more engineeringly perfect, though smaller, Lebaudy could scan, carry, and speak news of stupendous import. " These have been developed by paternal Govern- ments. We do not favour paternal Governments here— they are cold as charity ; rightly or wrongly we find more elasticity and spontaneous action in private enterprise. And it is here that the Aerial League comes in to help our country in her hour of need. " The Aerial League is the consolidation of British effort at the right moment. Just now other nations, favoured in difficult initial experiments by climatic condi- tions, have made a temporary spurt. One is not exaggerating much in saying in England that the weather is always against us in aerial navigation. But a British orator has told us that 'a difficulty is a thing to be overcome.' " Those enlightened men, Colonel Massy and his fellow workers in the Aerial League, seeing the achieve- ments of isolated Britons in the science and practice of aerial navigation, have logically discerned what great results would accrue from organised, directed patriotic endeavour. They have come forward to gather, to mould, to lead the aspirations of those who wish to see Great Britain—and do we not all wish it?—Queen of the Air as well as Ruler of the Seas ! "® © AERO CLUB OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. OFFICIAL NOTICES TO MEMBERS. June 26 July 10 July 17 August 28 October 3 Fixtures for 1000. Sailor-Aeronaut Race, " Enchantress," Netley, Southampton. Balloon Race, Hurlingham Club (Challenge Cup presented by Mr. F. Hedges Butler). "Hare and Hounds" Balloon Race, Hurlingham Club (Cup presented by the Hon. C. S. Rolls). Gordon-Bennett Aviation Cup, Rheims. Gordon-Bennett Balloon Race, Zurich. Committee Meeting. A meeting of the Committee was held on Tuesday, the 22nd inst, when there were present: Mr. Roger W. Wallace, K.C., in the chair, Mr. Griffith Brewer, Mr. Ernest C. Bucknall, Major C. de W. Crookshank, R.E., Mr. John Dunville, Prof. A. K. Huntington, Mr. V. Ker-Seymer, Mr. F. K. McClean, Mr. J. T. C. Moore- Brabazon, Hon. C. S. Rolls, Mr. Stanley Spooner, H. E. Perrin (Secretary). New Members.—The following new Members were elected :—• R. W. Anderson. Miss V. Hargreaves. Earl of Dundonald. Mrs. Pattinson. Lt.-Col. H. Goold-Adams, C.M.G. Benjamin Travers. Balloon Race at Hurlingham. The race for the Hedges Butler Challenge Cup will take place at Hurlingham Club, Fulham, S.W., on Saturday, July 10th, 1909, at 3.30 p.m. Members desiring to compete are requested to advise the Secretary not later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 7th, 1909. Entrance fee, IOJ\ The following rules will govern the competition :— 1. The Cup will be awarded to such member (whether the aero- naut in charge or not) who performs the longest voyage in any balloon, airship, or aeroplane (irrespective of weight and size) within the confines of Great Britain, on a date and from a place to be fixed annually by the Committee of the Aero Club. 2. The Cup will be held by the winner until the next competition. In the event of any member winning the Cup on three consecutive occasions, it will become his or her absolute property. 3. A competitor must not be accompanied by a professional aero- naut. The term " Professional Aeronaut " shall not be deemed to include officers connected with the military ballooning establishments of this or other countries. 4. A competing aerostat must be in charge of a member possessing the Club aeronaut's certificate, or a member who has made at least twelve ascents. 5. The distance must be covered in Great Britain only, i.e., the crossing of the open sea e.g., the English Channel, Irish Sea, &c), will not be permitted ; this, however, need not be taken to apply to indentations in the British coast, such as a mouth of a river, &c. 6. To prevent a competitor landing too near the sea, the distance will be measured only up to within five miles from the point at which the line of direction taken from the starting point to the place of final descent permanently leaves the coast. ' 7. The words " longest voyage " in Rule I refer to the distance covered, measuring in a direct line from the place of ascent to the place of final descent, and do not refer to the time occupied by the journey. 8. Temporary descents not exceeding a total duration of 8 hours may be made and occupants may alight, but all must re-ascend. No additional gas or ballast may be taken in, except ballast to be used temporarily for the purpose of anchoring the aerostat. 9. A proper anchor, anchor rope, and trail rope must be taken, and may not be dispensed with at any time. 10. Competitors are required on landing to properly fill in a landing certificate, which must be obtained from the Secretary beforehand, and this certificate should contain such full particulars as will enable the Committee to easily locate on an ordnance map of half an inch to a mile the exact point at which the final descent was made. The landing certificate must be signed as correct by the competitor and others (if any) accompanying him, and two responsible persons present at the time of the final descent, and must be sent in to the Secretary within seven days. 378
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