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Aviation History
1910
1910 - 0756.PDF
(/ycHf] SEPTEMBER 17, 1910. BORDEAUX FLIGHT MEETING. WHEN the dates of September nth to 18th were originally ear-marked for the Bordeaux aviation week, as the official flying meeting of the Aero Club of France, difficulties in regard to the prize money and other questions arose, which culminated in an official notice being issued, that the meeting would not be held this year. Subsequently, without any apparent explanation, the whole meeting was revived, and it is no small credit to those concerned, that the work which had to be accomplished in a comparatively short time in rendering the aviation grounds at Beau-Desert suitable for the important meeting to be held there, has been carried out with such a degree of thoroughness as was presented on the opening day of the meeting on Sunday' last. There were a few hitches in regard to the general arrangements, but taken as a whole the grounds may be regarded as being of a highly satisfactory nature for the purpose for which they have been destined. The official opening was at 11 o'clock, this being signalled by the firing of cannon and the hoisting of a red signal by the Judges. Almost as the cannon boomed, three biplanes were seen to rise into the air, one of these being Bielovucie on his Voisin, the others Rigal and Bregi. Bregi remained up a quarter of an hour, but Rigal in descending 5 mins. after his start made a bad landing, with damage to his machine, putting him out of the running for at least a couple of days. At 11.20, Thomas on his Antoinette was around the aerodrome for 10 mins., Martinet rising to take his turn as Thomas returned to earth. At 11.35, Simon on his Bleriot started work for the long distance competition, his first turn round the aerodrome being accomplished in the smart time of I min. 55 sees. Martinet soon after descended at his hangar, taking another turn about an hour afterwards for 17 mins. When passing in front of the grand stands presently Simon had a stop with his motor, but by very expert handling he was able to right the machine and make a gliding flight to earth, stopping when within a few yards of the barriers outside the popular enclosure. All this time Bielovucie was steadily totalling up a score for the long-distance competition, whilst Kuller on his Antoinette and Parent on a Poulain-Orange were bcth flying at low altitudes. At one minute past one, Ruchonnet on an Antoinette took his turn, remaining up for 20 mins., Bielovucie finishing his long flight at 1.34, having been in the air for 2h. 31m. u|s., covering in that time 160 kiloms. The opening of the altitude contest was down lor three o'clock, and Morane was the first to make a try for this. In the meantime, Simon, Bielovucie, Thomas and Bregi were again all hard at work adding to their totals for the long-distance contest. Morane found, however, the wind too gusty, and after a few minutes he returned to the aerodrome, to restart, however, almost immediately. After two rapid turns round the course he gradually narrowed his circle, rising to 1,140 metres, flying thus for a period of 16 mins. 29J sees., then coming down with a fine gliding flight in front of the grand stands. Soon after he again rose on his monoplane, and this time he slightly bettered his previous height, attaining an altitude of 1,200 metres. In the meantime Bielovucie had returned to his shed, a slight flaw in the machine having developed. Thomas and Bregi, in an attempt for height, each rose to about 520 metres. Towards the close of the day's events "Van den Born took round the aerodrome, as passengers, two officers of the 6th Regiment, whilst a bevy of flyers, including Parent, Ruchonnet, Thomas, Martinet, Mollien, Morane and Tyck were steadily working up their scores at various heights for the long distance prize, Tyck, after rising to a con siderable height, making a big detour entirely outside the aerodrome across country and landing 7 kiloms. away. For the day's work Morane obtained the height and speed prizes, Thomas the prize for the longest single flight of 162*5 kiloms. in 2 hours. 17 mins., and the total distance prize of 292^5 kiloms., Simon being second with 237'5 kiloms., Kuller third with 222"5 kiloms., and Bielovucie's 187"5 kiloms., Bielovucie's longest flight was 160 kiloms. in 2h. 3m. ilfs. The second day opened with a somewhat violent wind which for the less experienced aviators was against flying, but this in no way stopped the keen competition which is now becoming at each meeting more apparent between aviator and aviator. Even the " first to start " prizt of 500 and 200 francs is worth snapping up in these days, and at 1 x sharp, as the official cannon announced the opening of the meeting, five machines were in line to secure this small bait, Audemars managing with his little Clement Bayard " Demoiselle " to get in front of Kuller, Thomas, Simon and Martinet by about |ths of a second. The keenness for this prize brought about a slight accident between Thomas's Antoinette and Audemars' machine, fortunately without any serious results. The scramble for this being over, Bregi and Bielovucie both rose into the air, Parent on his Poulain - Orange following soon after, Martinet and Audemars returning to earth after about 18 minutes' flight. At 11.25 a^ general flying was stopped to give space for the Speed Contest. This was secured by Morane on his Bleriot with 16 mins. 22§ sees, for the 25 kiloms., Simon also on a Bleriot being second with 18 mins. 3* sees., Audemars with his " Demoiselle " making a good third in 20 mins. Ruchonnet soon after the speed trial came near having a nasty accident, he continuing in the air beyond the finish of his turn, then descending with a vol plane, found himself making for the lawn, and in order to avoid crashing into the public he took a sharp turn, his tail being caught by a gust of wind and sending him down from about 20 metres almost head first. Ruchonnet emerged from the damaged machine, however, unhurt, although a good many broken parts of the machine remained to testify to the sharp landing. For the long distance single-flight Thomas was first with 155 kiloms. in 2h. 13m., Bielovucie second with 80 kiloms. in ih. 16m. 33s., Thomas's total distance for the day being 288 kiloms. and for the entire meeting to date 572.5 kiloms., the next to him being Kuller with 397.5 kiloms. Morane again secured the height prize with 990 metres, making a splendid vol tlane in circles lasting close on 5 mins. 0) (2) (3) (4) AT THE TELLIER SCHOOL AT ETAMPES—SOME OF THE PUPILS.—(1) Prince de Nissole; (2) Le Maire % (3) Hammersley; (4) Becue; (5) D. L. Santoni. 754
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