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Aviation History
1910
1910 - 0155.PDF
time. About one learner's flying day per week, so the expense is great. Pau.—Two grounds belonging to municipality. Wright and Bleriot Schools. Individuals with their own make of machines not wanted. Splendid ground and weather in winter. Nice.—A new aerodrome has been started here, but it is reported small and rough. Little wind. Croix d'Hins.—Near Bordeaux. A large space, 6 kilometres square, has been cleared of scrub and trees. A dug and levelled track has been put round the ground, but owing to the steam roller not having arrived up to a few weeks ago this was so soft that sufficient speed was impossible. The centre part is impossibly rough except in small patches, roots and stumps still remaining. The late M. Delagrange was. up till recently, the only aviator able to get off the ground here this winter, owing to his very short run and powerful engine. Impossible for learners at present. Generally good weather in the winter time. The management here are exceedingly hospitable and courteous, placing sheds at the disposal of aviators free of charge, unloading their machines for them, and giving them every help. List of British Grounds. Brooklands.—Sheds ^10 per month or p^ioo per annum, including right to use interior of track except when race meetings are in progress. Wembley.—Too much money and not enough ground. £$ a week was asked for use of ground alone. Use of shed extra but not quoted. Park Royal.—Not enough smooth ground to learn on. Hounslow Heath.—Long wait getting permission from War Office. Difficulties housing machine. Hendon.—Very promising ; not yet ready. Wormwood Scrubbs.—Difficulties getting permission. This applies also to nearly all grounds controlled by the War Office, Borough Councils, and the Jockey Club. Fambridge, Essex.—Late colony of British aerocraft. Now abandoned as a flying centre. Not enough smooth ground, too many drainage ditches, about 6 ft. deep or 12 ft. broad. Large field opposite side river \ from Fambridge 3 miles by 1^. Too many drainage ditches intersecting. Rochford, Essex.—Several large fields, over a mile square, recently meadow land, now ploughed up. Large Fields near Southend.—Now under cultiva tion. Maplin Sands, Essex.—Foulness, near Shoeburyness ; finest natural aerodrome in England. For 8 hours out of 12 there is 10 miles by 4 of very hard sand. Too much wind in winter, tide dangerous, and War Office does not permit; otherwise perfect. Camber Sands near Rye, Sussex.—Two miles by one at low tide of fairly hard sand, with numbers of very soft patches which might cause monoplanes of the Bleriot type to stand on their heads, but it is probable some good long runs could be obtained. Long rigmarole involving references, &c, to rent a plot of land to put up a shed. Address Major Neal, Rolvenden. The grounds of the Royal Aero Club at Shellbeach and Eastchurch are, of course, only open for use to members of the Club. THE. PILCHER GLIDER.. MR. LAURENCE W. MILLER, from Calexico, California, sends us some important facts in regard to the actual cause of the disaster to the late Mr. Pilcher, which have an interest in themselves, in addition to their being a record in the " history " of flight and its martyrs. Mr. Miller writes as follows :— " In your issue dated 8th January I read with interest your article on the late Mr. Pilcher's glider. You stale, however, that it was the main beam of his machine which gave way during his last glide. This was not the case, as the cause of his fatal fall was due to the snapping of one of the bamboos supporting the tail-piece, or rudder. The Daily Graphic reported it in these words : ' Then a sharp gust of wind came, and the tail of the apparatus snapped.' I was myself present, and was one of the first to go to Mr. Pilcher's assistance, as he fell practically at my feet. I worked on the reconstruction of his machine for a year previous to his accident, and made under his directions the biplane type of machine which he was to have tried on the day he met his death. It is not generally known, I think, that Mr. Pilcher had his engine at his works all ready. I am glad to see that Mr. Pilcher's name has not been forgotten, and by this time I think it has been proved that his experiments were not in vain, though the final cost was so great." Huntingdon Old Race Course, which it is proposed to utilise as a permanent aviation ground, as seen from the railway. The recent phenomenal rains have been the cause of unusual flooding of the meadows. 151
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