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Aviation History
1909
1909 - 0608.PDF
OCTOBER 2, 1909. BERLIN FLYING WEEK. DESPITE the presence of several successful aviators, it appeared at first as though the Berlin Flying Week, which opened on Sunday last, would fall very flat, but on Monday public interest in the doings of the flyers was raised to the highest pitch by the splendid flight of Latham across country, from the Tempelhof field, where he had been practising, to the aerodrome at Johannisthal. Orville Wright decided to take no part in the competitions, but with Latham, Farman, Bleriot, Rougier, Leblanc, and several other Voisin and Farman pilots present there was always a good deal of excitement in the enclosures, although of course records were 5not broken so easily as at Rheims. On the opening day there was very little accomplished and the huge crowd which gathered had very little to reward its patience. De Caters made a few circuits round the 2^ kilom. course and Bleriot did the same, but neither continued long enough to qualify for the speed prize. Leblanc started on the Bleriot, but he only got half-way round the course, while Farman, who brought out his machine, found the darkness fell rapidly and decided to postpone his attempt to the next day. Very little was done on Monday beyond Latham's cross- country trip, which by its daring at once made the intrepid Latham the favourite with the crowd. He covered the 6^ miles in about 7 minutes. He first made two circuits of the Tempelhof field, and then went off in the direction of the Johannisthal. Then as soon as the telephonic message intimated that Latham was on his way, everyone strained their eyes to discover the speck in the sky. He made a wide sweep, and before coming to earth com- pleted two circuits of the aerodrome, when he was given a great ovation. Tuesday found a good deal of activity going on, and several flyers made attempts for the prizes, but the best performance was on the part of Rougier, who flew 4475 kiloms. in 52 mins. Latham and Farman both competed for the Speed Prize, the former taking 18 mins. 4! sees, for the 20 kiloms. and the latter 20 mins. 9f sees. Bleriot did not quite complete the 20 kiloms. Rougier made an attempt for the Height Prize, which has been presented by Count Zeppelin, during his long flight, but only got up to 100 metres. • Edwards, who was using a Voisin machine, had a nasty tumble after completing three circuits, but fortunately he escaped with nothing worse than a few slight cuts. De Caters, too, slightly damaged his biplane by a sudden landing. Wednesday, too, was a busy day, and the incidents were not all in the air. Organisation, or want of it, was mainly to blame, and the climax was reached when the aerodrome company, under an order of a law officer, took possession of M. Bleriot's machine. It is understood that this was in consequence of M. Bleriot leaving for Cologne in spite of an agreement to stay and fly at Berlin on five days, for which he had been paid ,£1,000. As he refused either to stay at Berlin or return the money, an embargo was placed upon his flyer. In sympathy with his friend, M. Lebanc notified the company that he would not fly any more there. Rougier was again the most successful of the aviators, and made thirty-one rounds of the course, his distance and time being officially returned at 77^ kiloms. in 1 hr. 37 mins. Latham was not very far behind this, • he having completed 67^ kiloms. in 1 hr. 14 mins. Leblanc, Molon, and Sanchez Besa made several short flights during the day, and Farman had a try for the Speed Prize, but his time was not so good as on the previous day. During the week previous to the opening of the flying week, Latham had been practising on the Tempelhof field, and his best flight was made on Thursday evening, when he kept aloft for ih. 2m. 56s. Herr Grade Has a Fall. WHILE making an attempt to win the Lanz Prize of ^2,000 at the Mars flying ground, near Berlin, Herr Grade had a nasty accident with his monoplane, but fortunately without injury to himself. The regulations Stipulated that a flight of 2^ kiloms. should be made in a figure of eight. Herr Grade started off splendidly, but in the middle of the trip the propeller broke and the machine fell about 30 metres, but the force of the fall was broken by some low pine trees. The machine was badly damaged, but it was hoped that it would be repaired in a few days. Herr Grade, the German aviator, who has been flying .on his monoplane at the Mars Aerodrome, near Bork, for the Lanz prize. 612
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