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Aviation History
1909
1909 - 0439.PDF
JULY 24, 1909. While dismantling the rescued flyer at Sangatte on Tuesday, M. Levavasseur came across a small piece of metal in 1 some place to which it did not belong and attributesj the cause of the failure to its presence. The Wifeless Story. . i No fetter account of Mr. Latham's famous first attempt could possibly be obtained in a condensed form than is given by the following series of wireless messages, which we reproduce as an historical record, transmitted and received, at the special station on the Lord Warden Hotel:— ^ -.-••.- ^ Sangatte, 4.30^1.111.—Weather here unfavourable; thick mist, slight rain, little wind. Dover, 4.38 a. m.\—Unfavourable here ; fog, followed by wind and wet. I Sangatte, 5.5. a.m.—Stand by. Every hour wind conditions getting more favourafcle. Dover, 5.10 a.m.—^Weather clearing. Sangatte, 5.16 a.m.—Latham wants How far in this direction can you see ? not more unfavourable.'^ Dover, 5.20 a.m.—Can see 10 miles. Sangatte, 5.48 a.m.—-Don't leave instrument for a second. Torpedo-boat arrived, and exchanging signals with the shore. Mechanics preparing to g^et the machine. Weather nearly ideal, excepting for mist. Sangatte, 5.52 a.m.—He" will probably start in about fifteen minutes. Stand by. Sangatte, 5.58 a.m.—Machine has been brought out of shed. Waiting for signal to start. Conditions ideal. Sangatte, 6.12 a.m.—Machine being taken along the road to the starting place on Blanc Nez. v. Sangatte, 6.16 a.m.—Gun signal V) start has been given. Please inform Customs. * Sangatte, 6.22 a.m.—Destroyer " Harpon " is steaming seawards. Machine in position. Start in about teta minutes. Sangatte, 6.42 a.m.—He has gone. \ ^ Sangatte, 6.46 a.m. He is making wide, sweeping circles. • Sangatte, 6.50 a.m.—He is out of sight oi stM^ge^gLglass. I: Sangatte, 6.53 a.m.—Look out for hjwu^&pd tell us at once* ^ Dover, 7.23 a.m.—Anything yet ? to know is fog clearing. He will start if conditions Sangatte, 7.24 a.m.—No report yet. Dover, 7.46 a.m.—Not in sight. Requesting assistance fishery cruiser to search. Dover, 8.6. a.m.—Very anxious here. Cannot see torpedo-boat or Latham. Can you ? Sangatte, 8.11 a.m.—Lost sight of torpedo-boat ten minutes after start. Large crowd here anxious for news. Sangatte, 8.38 a.m.—President of Chamber of Commerce received telephone message saying Latham fallen into sea. Sangatte, 8.53 a.m.—Report here that tug has been seen bringing back machine. Sangatte, 8.57 a.m.—It is a fact that tug just gone by at a distance. Sangatte, 9.3 a.m.—We are leaving for Calais. H.M.S. "Halcyon "to Marconi Station, Lord Warden Hotel, 9.10 a.m.—Have you lost touch of aeroplane ? Do you want us to look for it ? Marconi Station, Lord Warden Hotel, to H.M.S. "Halcyon," 9.15 a.m.—Tug has aeroplane in tow. Many thanks for your kind offer of assistance. Are you the fisheries cruiser ? H.M.S. "Halcyon."—Yes. Many thanks. Sangatte, 10.20 a.m—Latham is safe at Calais. Machine damaged. Wilbur Wright on the Channel Flight- SPEAKING on the subject of Mr. Latham's attempt, Mr. Wilbur Wright is reported by cable to have said that he was surprised that the Antoinette flyer got as far as it did, as he does not consider that the engine is suitable for the purpose. Asked if he thought his own biplane could keep afloat in the water, Mr. Wright said that it all depended how the initial contact was made. He anticipated that it would float for some time after a gliding descent, owing to the cushion of air imprisoned beneath the lower plane. Bleriot enters for the Cross-Channel Prize. SEIZING the chance offered by Mr. Latham's failure, and inspired by his own successful cross-country flight of last week, M. Bleriot has formally entered his name for the Daily Mail cross-Channel prize. According to his LATHAM'S CHANNEL FLIGHT.—The rescue of the Antoinette flyer by the French torpedo destroyer*' Harpon." One of the French sailors hitching the hoisting tackle to the centre of the machine. 441
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