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Aviation History
1909
1909 - 0607.PDF
OCTOBER 2, 1909. FLYING AT SPA. NOTHING very exciting transpired at Spa during last week and on Sunday. Delagrange had in five days remained in the air only a total of 32^ mins., while Sommer, who was next, had only flown 25 mins. 45 sees, altogether. On Saturday and Sunday there was heavy rain and wind which spoilt all chances of flying, and both Sommer and Delagrange had their machines badly smashed on Sunday. The meeting opened on the 21st, when Sommer, Paulhan, Delagrange, and Le Blon arrived with their machines. The honour of being the first in the air fell to M. Delagrange, and on the 22nd he flew for 11 kiloms. at a height of 6 or 8 metres. Four flights were made the next day by Delagrange, the longest being three times round the ground in 5 mins. 4 sees. Paulhan succeeded in rising, but he landed suddenly, and Sommer flew outside the ground and landed about 3 kiloms. away from his shed. Three of the aviators flew on the 24th, Delagrange completed four circuits, and Sommer five, while Le Blon, who is being instructed by Delagrange, succeeded in going round the ground twice quite easily. Wind and rain made the conditions very uncomfortable on Saturday last, but in spite of that Sommer succeeded in keeping aloft for 16 mins. 27 sees., and Delagrange also made five rounds of the course in 10 mins. 38 sees. Sunday was very bad, and as we have said both Sommer and Delagrange smashed their machines. In the former's case it was due to some people getting in his way, causing him to come down suddenly; while in the case of Dela- grange, he had flown four times round the ground, and came down all right, but when close to his shed the front wheels stuck in a ditch, and the machine tipped up, breaking both wings. It was then decided to postpone the meeting for a couple of days. The flying was resumed on Tuesday, but the only man to do anything worth noting was Le Blon, who made a splendid flight of 23 kiloms., occupying about as many minutes. M. Paulhan announced that in consequence of the unsatisfactory state of the ground he had decided not to make any further attempts to fly at Spa. Wednesday produced a new world's record when Delagrange suc- ceeded in rising clear from the ground in 49 metres, thus bettering the previous best of 60 metres made a few days ago by M. Santos Dumont. RHEIMS RECORDS AS OFFICIALLY RECORDED. OFFICIAL recognition has just been accorded by the Commission Aerienne Mixte to the following records made during the Rheims Meeting. AEROPLANES. Distance Records. Paulhan, August 25th, 1909 Latham, August 26th, 1909 Farman, August 27th, 1909 134 kiloms. environ. 154" 620 kiloms. 180 kiloms. Duration Records. Paulhan, August 25th, 1909 Farman, August 27th, 1909 2n. 43m. 24fs. 3h. 4m. 56JS. Height Record. Latham 155 metres Kiloms. 10 Bleriot 20 Curtiss 30 Curtiss 40 Latham 50 Latham 60 Latham Speed Records. h. m. s. Kiloms. o 7 47f o 15 5°f o 23 29J ° 34 55 o 43 56 o 52 44? 70 Latham 80 Latham 90 Latham 100 Latham 150 Latham h. 1 1 I 1 2 m.3 11 19 28 13 s.6 26? 56! 17 of Speed Record with One Passenger. r ] 10 kiloms. Farman ... ... 9m. S21S- Speed Record with Two Passengers. 10 kiloms. Farman 10m. 39s. DIRIGIBLES.—Speed Records (Colonel Renard). Kiloms. m. s. Kiloms. h. m. s. Kiloms. h. m. s. 10 ... 16 31 30 ... o 48 3i£ I 50 ... 1 19 49J 20 ... 31 58! 40 ... 1 3 28f I WRIGHT BROTHERS AND THEIR FLYER. Flying Round the Statue of Liberty. ONE of the first landmarks of America which meets the eye of the visitor from Europe who lands in New York is the gigantic statue of Liberty which stands at the entrance to the harbour, and on Wednesday last those who were returning from America on the '' Lusitania" had an experience which will no doubt live for ever in their memory. As they were leaving the harbour Wilbur Wright rose in his aeroplane from Governor's Island, and, passing over the ship, made straight for the statue of Liberty, circling round it before flying back to his starting place a mile away. It was a sight to have lived for, and was wildly cheered by the immense crowds which lined the banks cf the Hudson River and the passengers on the various liners. Curtiss had also intended to perform the same feat, but he contented himself with a circular flight over the island. Wright Brothers and Others. FROM New York it is reported that Wilbur Wright has announced that as he claims that the Farman and Bleriot machines infringe the patents held by himself and his brother Orville, they will institute legal proceedings against all persons taking such machines into the United States. According to an interview with a Press repre- sentative, this threat is not looked upon very seriously by M. Bleriot, and his firm have no fear of any legal action. Wright Brothers' Aerodrome. , ; IT is reported from Springfield, Ohio, that the Wright Brothers have purchased about 700 acres of land at Tippecanoe, near Springfield, where they propose to erect an extensive factory for the mmufacture of their flyers. The extensive ground will also be used for experimental purposes. Balloon Photography. AMOWG the exhibits at the annual exhibition of the Royal Photographic Society are some very interesting photographs taken from balloons. 613
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