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Aviation History
1909
1909 - 0625.PDF
OCTOBER 9, 1909. BLACKPOOL AVIATION MEETING. ALREADY the task of preparing the flying ground at Blackpool is well in hand, and the work of erecting the grand stands and sheds is being pushed on rapidly. It has been decided to extend the course so that it now measures 4 kiloms. 20 metres round instead of 3*3 kiloms., as originally laid out. The method of flying the course has also been revised, and the start will now take place from the western corner, the competitors flying towards Middle Lane, and then turning to the right in the direction of St. Anne's. It has been decided that the charge for motors entering the ground shall be 5$. a day or one guinea a week, pro- viding the passengers have tickets for the grand stand or paddock. Definite contracts, outside any British competitors who may take part, it is stated, have been made with Mr. Henry Farman, MM. Rougier, Paulhan, Dufour, Defiers, Baratoux, Sanchez Besa and Edwards, while MM. de Riche, Dutrix and Leblanc will in all probability also decide to take part. On the other hand, negotiations with Mr. S. F. Cody have been abandoned, and it is rumoured that he will not be amongst the flyers at Blackpool. On Saturday last it was announced that the Committee in charge of the meeting were committed to an expenditure of ,£20,000, and towards this ,£11,000 had been •subscribed apart from the ,£7,000 offered by the Lancashire Aero Club. This offer has now been •accepted, and the Lancashire Club will nominate half the members of the Management Committee. Prizes to the value of .£6,150, as recorded in our last issue, are being offered, and in addition the Dailv Mail ,£1,000 prize for a circular mile flight, the ,£500 Gold Cup •offered by Sir David Salomons, and the Michelin _£r,ooo prize will be open for competition. With a view to encouraging the development of the slow-speed machine, the proprietors of the Manchester Guardian have offered a cup which will be awarded to the aviator who makes the slowest time during the meeting over one circuit of the course. This, it is thought, may induce some of the aviators to fly when the conditions would not be favourable for the distance, speed, or height competitions ; as, for instance, when the wind was strong, so as to get the advantage of a slow head-to-wind flight on one side of the course. Among the recent large contributions towards the funds may be noted the items of .£105 to the prize fund and .£300 to the guarantee fund from the Hotel Metropole, and ,£100 to the prize fund from Messrs. Daniel Thwaites and Co. Mr. V. Ker-Seymer has accepted the position of Hon. Secretary to the Meeting. Accommodation at Blackpool. IT was certainly a smart move on the part of the Motor Club, securing the whole of the Queen's Hotel, South Shore, Blackpool, for the use of their members and friends during the flying week. Reasonable and inclusive prices have been fixed for the whole week, practically amounting to ,£5 5J. per person and " all found." Those who delay to secure rooms from the Secretary of the Club under these conditions may find that their position in the allotment in " priority of application " will be outside the holding capacity of the hotel. In like manner, other intending visitors should arrange early for their rooms elsewhere, as places are filling up rapidly, although no doubt there will be plenty of good boarding-house accommodation obtainable for a time. As an example we understand that mine host Moon, of the Buckingham Hotel, Claremont Park, is very nearly booked up, and has already arranged for an additional large establishment situated in Claremont Park. Little wonder when the proprietor informs us that M. Bleriot has written him that he will stay at the Buckingham if he goes to Blackpool, whilst Mr. Henry Farman may also be expected to be there. The Travel Department of Messrs. Pickfords (the well-kn .wn carriers) announce facilities for booking passengers by all railways to Blackpool and neighbour- hood for the Aviation Week at special rates. If applied to early, they can also arrange hotel accommodation in Blackpool, St. Annes-on-Sea, or Lytham. The principal ticket office in London is 37, Sloane Street, and tele- phone inquiries to 1066 Kensington will be promptly answered. PROPOSED MEETING AT DONCASTER. IT will be seen from the official notices on page 627 that the Committee of the Aero Club, after consideration •of an application by the Doncaster Corporation, have •decided that they cannot sanction a second competitive meeting during the same period. This course is un- doubtedly the only correct one to have taken, and •we are glad to see that it is applauded by practically the whole of the responsible Press of the kingdom which has consistently followed and endeavoured to assist the progress of flight in this country. One and all have raised their voice in deprecation of this clashing of fixtures and the harm which is bound to ensue from endeavouring to organise such meetings at very short notice. Lieut-Col. F. C. Trollope, a Vice-President of the Aeronautical Society, in a letter to the Press, puts the matter quite clearly from an unbiased point of view. Lieut.-Col. Trollopc's letter reads as follows :— " In the best interests of aviation in this country it seems in- credible that official sanction can be given for a flying meeting— whether for competitions or merely for exhibition flights—at Don- caster, to run concurrently with the Blackpool Aviation- Week. Considering the scarcity of prominent aviators, it is palpable that such a proceeding is bound seriously to prejudice the success of both meetings, and if tor no other reason should be banned. '• A parallel case would be exemplified by the Jockey Club autho- rising race meetings to be held at Kempton Park and Sandown Park on the same day, which, of course, they would never agree to. " Both from a sporting and a common-sense mercenary view, there- fore, it seems highly desirable ihat the Doncaster affair should not be allowed to clash in any way with Blackpool's dates fixed long ago." Should actual competitions be held at Doncaster, and the meeting consequently be proclaimed, it will become a very serious question for the consideration of the aviators who have been announced to take part, as if they persist in competing in spite of this they will find they are disqualified from taking part in any International competitions throughout the world. Among those whose names have been mentioned, and who will thus be seriously affected, are Mr. S. F. Cody, MM. Sommer, Delagrange, Le Blon, Prevot, Moron, Scherck, and Moreau. 629
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