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Aviation History
1909
1909 - 0541.PDF
SEPTEMBER 4, 1909. Baron de Forest's £4,000 Prize. OUR readers will find under the " Aero Club Notes " on page 542, the full regulations drawn up by the Aero Club governing the competition for the prize of ^4,000 offered by Baron de Forest for a Cross-Channel flight. Cross'Country Flight by Mr. Cody. PROGRESS still continues to be made by Mr. Cody at Aldershot, and on Saturday last he made his best performance so far by flying across country. Altogether four trips were carried out during the evening. In the first, in which he was unaccompanied, a distance of about four and a half miles was traversed. This was followed by a couple of flights with a passenger, each time a mechanic having the honour. The last " jaunt" of the day was the best. After crossing Laffan's Plain, the Basingstoke Canal, and Claycart Common, he flew along the Long Valley to Jubilee Hill. Rounding this, the Long Valley was again crossed diagonally to Long Hill, and then the course was over the Canal again to Eelmoor Hill. An altitude of about 100 ft. above the ground was reached at this point, where a number ot admiring spectators spontaneously cheered Mr. Cody. He finished his fine effort by making a complete circuit of Laffan's Plain, and finally came to rest a few yards from his shed. Brooklands for Flyers. IT seems almost a natural corollary that amongst the sporting members of the Brooklands Automobile Racing Club there should be a number of men whose minds are turning to the fascination of aviation. Several, in fact, are already on the road to become future flyers, some four getting near the stage of making trials before long. Mr. Hammond has had his machine in hand on the ground for some little time now, and others who may be heard of shortly have arranged for Bleriot and Antoinette flyers. For trial purposes the Brooklands grounds should be useful, and as progress is made it should be possible to arrange some extended flights round the " bowl." Edinburgh Museum and Aviation. ALREADY the Royal Scottish Museum at Edinburgh have the nucleus of a very good section relating to aviation, having secured duplicates of the Lilienthal and Pilcher gliders, and a model of the Wright flyer. They have also under construction a model of the machine in which Bleriot crossed the Channel; both this and the Wright model being made to a scale of one-eighth full size. / ' ; ' '• •;•... ; Flying "Week at Blackpool. v •':".. THE authorities of Blackpool, ever on the alert for an opportunity to advertise their town, have been fired with an ambition to hold an aviation meeting in October. In order to see what could be done in the matter, a deputation consisting of the Mayor (Councillor Fielding), and Councillor Parkinson, with Messrs. Brodieand Noden, paid a visit to Rheims last week-end. As a result of these investigations a report will be laid before the Town Council, who have already agreed to the proposal in principle. At a meeting of the Town Council on Wednesday evening, it was decided to go on with the organisation of the meeting with a view to its being held during October. It is probable that the value of the prizes offered will exceed ^5,000. Already Councillor Parkin- son has, as our readers will call to mind, shown a keen interest in aviation, and is expecting at an early date delivery of a Bleriot monoplane. Bleriot and Latham Match. IT is announced by the Secretary of the Aeroplane Club that the contract for this match has been signed, and will take place at Wembley Park at a date to be fixed between October 15th and 30th. Rules governing the contest are to be drawn up by a committee represent- ing the Aeroplane Club, the directors of Wembley Park, and the International Federation. There are to be five flights, to start between 2 p.m. and sunset. The first section of the races will be divided into three portions, one of ten miles (which will be timed to 16 mins.), a twenty miles race (the time not to exceed 28 mins.), and the third of thirty miles, the time of which, to constitute a race, has not yet been decided upon. The prizes for the races will amount to ,£2,400 for the winner, and ^600 for the loser. There is also to be a high-flight race, the winner to receive ;£ 1,600, and the loser £400. The competitors will be invited to take part in other races, and special attractions are to be offered to English aviators to bring English-made machines. fresumably the " International Federation " refers to the Aero Club of the United Kingdom, who are the sole representatives in Great Britain of International aero- nautical affairs. It is, however, very doubtful whether Wembley Park is a suitable place for a meeting of this character, and it is to be hoped that the Joint Committee, when appointed, will duly consider the responsibilities involved when deciding this point. What we hardly understand, however, in view of the statement that the contract is signed, is M. Bleriot's very emphatic pronouncement to the Paris correspondent of the Daily Telegraph that he has signed nothing, and at present has little intention of doing so. Time, no doubt, will elucidate these little discrepancies. The Curragh suggested for an Aviation Meeting. MR. R. J. MECREDY has lost no time in following up the suggestion of Mr. Lloyd George, that Ireland was the most suitable place for a big aviation week. He writes from Dublin advocating the advantages of the Curragh, about 30 miles from Dublin, for such an event. He points out that " it is a level plain, nearly circular in shape, and measuring about i| miles in diameter. It is smooth, and covered with a very thick, short grass, which would render starting exceedingly easy. Apart from this it is intersected by several roads of good surface running flush with the grass, and which also would be most suitable for starting purposes. There are no trees on this plain, but one side of it • is occupied by the military camp. " On the whole I think it would be most suitable ground. The grand stand used in connection with the horse races would come in very useful to the spectators, and would enable the promoters to get a substantial sum from the gate." £500 for Crossing the Firth of Forth. A PRIZE of ^500 is being offered by the directors of the Edinburgh Marine Gardens for the first British aviator who in a British aeroplane shall cross the Firth 543
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