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Aviation History
1909
1909 - 0517.PDF
AUGUST 28, 1909. ONE OF THE METHODS ADOPTED AT THE RHEIMS AVIATION MEETING FOR TAKING THEMACHINES UP TO THE STARTING LINE.—The monoplane in our picture being hauled along is one of the R.E.P. flyers. entries, and lots were drawn for starting order, each being allowed a quarter of an hour to get away. First out to the line was one of the red R.E.P. monoplanes, but this was unable to rise, and the first to actually make a start was Tissandier, on a Wright flyer, just before eleven o'clock. He only remained up for 1 min., how- ever, and was followed by Bleriot on one of the little cross-Channel monoplanes. He managed to cover about 2-g- kiloms., and then Latham had a try. His machine bore the number 13, and to this was attributed his failure to keep going for more than about 500 yards. Lefebvre's turn came next, and he made the best attempt, very nearly completing two laps of the 10 kilom. course. Capt. Ferber (de Rue) and others made attempts but could not get off the ground. All this time a nasty gusty wind of about twenty miles an hour was harassing the aviators, and at noon a heavy shower of rain did not improve the position. So it came about that when the time for finishing the trials arrived at two o'clock no one had bettered Lefebvre and Bleriot's performances, and they were accordingly announced as the first two French representatives for the Gordon-Bennett Race. The third, it was decided, should be selected according to the pace made in the speed tests in the afternoon, and this secured for Latham the third place, whilst as reserves Tissandier, Lambert, Paulhan, and Sommer, in the order named were appointed. A heavy storm at five o'clock made it appear that further flying would be out of the question that day. But quick changes were the order of the day, and half an hour later the weather broke, and immediately all was animation amongst the aviators, who proceeded to bring out their machines for the speed trials. Latham was the first away, he being rapidly followed by others, until the wonderful and unprecedented spectacle was witnessed of seven machines in the air at one time. Five, including Tissandier, Lambert, Lefebvre, Paulhan and Sommer, succeeded in covering the 30 kiloms. for the speed prizes, the three Wright machines and their pilots doing justice to their master by securing the three first places. Moreover, it was vastly interesting to note that the differ- ence between Tissandier, who was first, and Lefebvre and Lambert, who were bracketed second, was only if- sees. In addition to the above, Latham, on his Antoinette, twice made a single circuit, and Cockburn, on his Farman, once, the honour of fastest lap time going to Lefebvre, with 8 min. 581 sees. The longest flight of the day was that of Lefebvre, who remained in the air for 41 mins., and executed some daring manoeuvres, which roused the spectators to enthusiasm. Incidents of intense interest were momentarily occurring, the utter novelty of the entire proceedings rendering the most trivial occurrence of moment. A machine dropped down here and there, only to have its place filled by another ANOTHER METHOD OF BRINGING A FLYER TO THE STARTING POINT.—M. Bleriot's No. XII passenger-carrying monoplane is the machine in the photograph. 5'9
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