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Aviation History
1909
1909 - 0813.PDF
DECEMBER IS, 1909. THE R.A.C. AND THE AERO CLUB OF THE U.K. BEARING in mind the misconceptions which exist in certain quarters regarding the relations between the Royal A.C. and the Aero Club of the U.K., it is interesting to notice the following remarks which appear in an editorial in thecurrent R.A. C. Journal:— " In connection with the report of the proceedings at the last meeting of the Committee of the Club it will be observed that in •acknowledging the congratulations of the Club on his initial circular flight with an all-British aeroplane, Mr. J. T. C. Moore-Brabazon took occasion to touch on the relations that exist between the Royal Automobile Club and its off-spring, the Aero Club of the United Kingdom. Many members, especially those recently elected to •either body, may, perchance, be unaware of the very real and cordial relations that exist between the representative motoring and representative aeronautical organisations in Britain. W hat is equal ly to the point is that the parent Club has by no means exhausted the «tore of service that it has been rendering, and is prepared to render, to the parallel organisation which finds itself in the earlier -stages of a mighty movement concerned with travel by air. Yet it •is not the purpose of the Club to presume, or in any way to interfere with, the sphere of activity of the Aero Club. The spirit of the •helpfulness which the older and thoroughly established body enter- tains towards the newer one, that is making such eminently gratifying progress, is one of support and encouragement in every practical form, and, in whatever few phases or occasions may be necessary, of co-operation. One touches on this matter not only by way of a reminder to those who may be unacquainted with the history of both bodies, but also because it is obvious that there will be occasions in the future in plenty when it will be of the utmost service to those in the aeronautical world to feel and to know that the moral support and active assistance of the Royal Automobile Club is behind the Aero Club of the United Kingdom, which stands in that relation towards the development of aerial navigation that the Royal Automobile Club does towards the more conventional methods of employing the internal-combustion engine." Mr. Moore-Brabazon's letter referred to above is as follows:—• "28, Chesham Street, S.W., " November 7th, 1909. "DEAR SIR,—Your letter of the 4th conveying the congratula- tions of your Committee is before me, and it is with the greatest gratitude I reply to it. " The relations existing between the Royal Automobile Club and its offspring, the Aero Club, are and have always been an example to other countries. On this account more especially are the con- gratulations of your Club welcome, in that they come from a powerful body that has ever helped, and I hope will continue to help, the Aero Club in its management and control of aviation in this country. "Again with my thanks, " Yours very truly, (Signed) "J. T. C. MOORE-BRABAZON." AUSTRALIAN £5,000 PRIZE. IN view of the great interest attaching to them, we repro- duce in full the regulations which have been drawn up in connection with the prize of .£5,000 offered by the Australian Commonwealth for the flying machine of Australian origin adjudged to be the best for military purposes. It will be seen that they are exceptionally severe. Entries close on March 31st next. Conditions. 1. In these conditions " Minister " means the Minister of State •of the Commonwealth for Defence or the Minister of State for the time being administering the Defence Acts of the Commonwealth. 2. The inventor or designer of the machine and the entrant for •the prize must each have been resident in Australia for at least two years, and must each be a natural-born or naturalized British subject. The entrant for the prize must operate the machine during the test •or tests. 3. The machine with which the inventor, designer, or entrant -competes must not be supported in any manner by a gas lighter than air, and must embody sufficient novelty and invention over and .above what has been previously published in Australia to warrant the grant of Letters Patent under the Patents Acts of the Common- wealth of Australia. 4. The complete machine, i.e., motors, planes, propellers, and all other parts thereof, shall be as far as possible constructed in Aus- tralia by Australians. In cases where the entrant for the prize -satisfies the Minister that any parts of the machine cannot be made in Australia the importation of such parts will be permitted. This •condition shall not be held to apply to raw material. 5. The machine must be able to rise from the ground without appreciable delay under its own power and without the aid of special starting apparatus, and must be able to alight without damage to its machinery or gear. It must be capable of " poising " or remaining over a given area for what would in the opinion of the Minister be sufficient time to enable such observations to be taken as may be necessary for military purposes. 6. The machine must be able to develop a speed when required or .not tess than 20 miles per hour, and roust be capable of carrying sufficient fuel to remain in action for not less than five hours. 7. The test or tests shall take place at such time or times and .place or places as may be fixed by the Minister for that purpose and in the presence of such officers or persons as may be detailed by the Minister, and the entrant for the prize must have his machine ready for the test at the time and place fixed. 8. The test flight shall be a triangular course not exceeding 20 miles in all, and the machine must return to its original starting point •without having touched the ground or water, as the case may be. 9. In the trials each machine must carry at least two persons, one of whom must be available for taking observations. The total loading over and above the weight of the complete machine must not be less than 350 lbs. 10. In arriving at a decision special consideration will be given to the following points ;— a. Range of speed, maximum and minimum. b. Liability from accident resulting from failure 01 engine, pro- peller, frame or planes. c. Facility of starting and alighting. d. Facility of rapidly arising and descending. e. Capability of maintaining flight for lengthy period. /. Capability of steering in various directions and of manoeuvring generally. g. Simplicity and effectiveness of design, and adaptability for being rapidly taken apart for packing, transport or storage, and re-erection. 11. Any failure at the trial flight shall not necessarily debar a competitor or competitors from further trials. 12. Entries will only be accepted on the express condition that the entrant waives all claim for injury either to himself or to his apparatus, and assumes all liability for damage to third parties or their property, and indemnifies the Commonwealth Government against any claims by any person whomsoever for compensation for injuries to person or property arising out of or by reason of any tests of the machine in competition for the prize. The said Govern- ment shall accept no responsibility for the custody or safety of any machine submitted. 13. Every entry must be accompanied by full plans and specifica- tions of the machine, which will be regarded as strictly secret by the Minister, and be returned if not acquired by the Government. 14. The successful machine shall, if considered by the Minister satisfactory for military purposes, be for the space of three months at the disposal of the Commonwealth Government at a price to be fixed by arbitration. 15. Should, in the opinion of the Minister, none cf the machines submitted reasonably comply with the above conditions or otherwise be suitable for military purposes he may decline to make any award, and in that event none of the entrants shall be entitled to the prize or to any payment whatever. 16. The Minister shall be the sole judge as to whether these conditions shall have been properly complied with, and his decision shall be final. ® ® ® ® Flight in Australia. THE land of the Southern Cross now has its flying man, Mr. Colin Defries, who took out a Wright machine some time ago, having met with success in his experi- ments at Sydney, and on Friday of last week making a good flight. 815
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