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Aviation History
1910
1910 - 0891.PDF
OCTOBER 29, 1910. FROM THE BRITISH Brooklands Aerodrome. IN the early morning calm on Tuesday, the 18th inst., the Spencer-Stirling machine was out for trials. Mr. Neale was also flying " Neale VII," the necessary repairs being completed, but the rest of the day proyed too windy for any work. Wednesday showed a slight improvement in the weather, and a lull in the afternoon brought out Pecquet on the Humber-Sommer biplane, which has been fitted with a 50-h.p. Gnome, in place of the 45-h.p. Humber, and now flies quite satisfactorily. Thursday afternoon, Pecquet on the Humber biplane and M. Blondeau on the Farman, made long passenger trips, while Mr. Low on the Bristol biplane with Gregoire motor was out for half an hour in a wind varying from 5 to 15 m.p.h. Complete semi circles were obtained, starting before the wind and ending into the wind and vice versa. Mr. Neale, on " Neile VII," made short flights, he, however, having a good deal of trouble with his engine. On Friday morning Mr. Gresswell, a pupil of Grahame-White's, came to grief on a Bleriot, making a bad landing. The fastening of the steel tape which braces the chassis broke, allowing it to get into the path of the propeller. Towards midday, in spite of a wind blowing about 15 miles an hour, M. Maurice Ducrocq, a pupil of M. Blondeau, qualified for his pilot's certificate, Mr. Harold Perrin, secretary to the Royal Aero Club, being present. Saturday turned out a really calm day, and out of the 40 machines housed at Brooklands 11 took advantage of the opportunity. In the morning the Bristol-Gregoire was out taking Captain and Mrs. Wood as passengers in straight-line flights, piloted by Mr. Low, whilst Mr. Neale on " Neale VII," and Mr. Davies on the Hanriot, were flying in the early afternoon, the last mentioned being out for the first time since the cracked cylinder had been replaced. Later in the afternoon Pecquet was flying well, and also carrying passengers, Mr. Ballin Hinde being amongst those who ventured. M. Blondeau also made several passenger-carrying trips. The new Bristol-Gnome was taken out for the first time. Edmond made a trial flight at from 30 to 40 feet, and, finding the regulation perfect, took Lieut. Maitland and Mr. Low for passenger flights. While most of these machines were still in evidence, two new comers made their bow to the public, one, Mr. Sopwith's new Howard Wright monoplane with an E.N.V. engine. Both literally and figuratively it was not only the aviator's, but also the machine's, maiden trip. After a few runs he guided the machine into the air in good style, but after 200 to 300 yds. it rose suddenly to a height of 40 feet, and for a moment looked like falling back wards, so steep was the angle. Fortunately he righted it, but in landing came down sideways, smashing the propeller and chassis, and damaging one wing. The other newcomer was the Collier- Lang monoplane, which only made a very short trial run. This machine is in many ways original, and a somewhat strange - looking craft. The pilot's seat is placed in front of the planes, while the 9-h.p. Jap is behind the pilot, driving a direct-coupled Lang propeller. The monoplane tail is supported by outriggers, similar to those used on most biplanes, and the chassis is a com bination of wheels and skids, something like a Sommer. Mr. Watkins on the Howard Wright biplane was showing good progress, several times executing sharp turns. Since Saturday there has been very little to record. Mr. Roe was out on his machine on Tuesday afternoon. It is now fitted with a pigeon tail in place of his biplane tail, and engined by an 8-cyl. Jap. Also during the afternoon Lieut. Maitland was put up for practice on the Bristol- Gregoire, and made half a dozen good straight-line flights. New Forest Aviation School. THE weather has been very unsettled all over this part of the country for the past fortnight, and opportunities for practice have consequently been limited to a few odd hours. On Saturday last, however, a satisfactory morning's work was got through by Barrington Kennett, who did some rolling and hopping in the early morning and then in the forenoon. After Wilson had shown himself much improved as a " roller," the army representative started off for a flight. Full of confidence, and benefiting by his last experience (when he tried to turn in the air at too small a height, and finished up with a pretty complete smash), he quickly rose to an altitude of about 50 ft., and circling gradually round covered a distance of more than a mile ere landing in the most approved style near the sheds, and just at the spot from which he had started. Mr. Kempton Cannon commences his course at Beaulieu on Monday, and another pupil is expected later in the week. Housing accommodation is now becoming a serious question, and with the advent of more pupils it seems likely that a spacious bungalow will prove a necessity, so that everyone may be sure of finding shelter and be able to join the *' aviators' mess." [/ycHf] FLYING GROUNDS. It is highly probable that, on his return from America, McArdle will busy himself preparing an all-British machine, 10 lie ready in time for him to join issue with others contesting the Baron de Forest prize for the longest flight from England into France before the end of this year. Hendon Aerodrome. DURING the past week the Aeronautical Syndicate's " Valkyrie " has been much in evidence at Hendon, The school machine has been out every day, excellent progress being made by Messrs. Benson and Hirst. On Saturday afternoon there was quite a crowd present, and the Syndicate's pilot made some excellent flights, circulating the aerodrome with remarkable precision and steadiness, and scoring particularly with his vol plain's. We understand that more than one aviator has registered his application with the Aero Club to compete with a " Valkyrie " for the De Forest Cross Channel Prize, which looks distinctly promising for this distinctive "All-British" machine. " Blinkers" have now been fitted forward and under the front plane, and the ruddeis have been carried further aft. So satisfied are the Syndicate with the success already obtained that the standardisation of this model is now complete, and any changes that may take place in the future will be in minor details only. We shall shortly give full particulars of the new three-seater "Valkyrie," which is now undergoing its trials. The following brief notes concerning it are in the meantime of interest :— Bare weight, fitted with 60-65-h.p. Green engine, 740 lbs., or only 12 lbs. to the horsepower. Surface, 320 sq. ft., or 2*31 lbs. to the square foot, which is certainly remarkable for a monoplane. Safety skids, 26 ft. long, set 9 ft. apart, which would appear to be a landing arrangement of extraordinary efficiency. The amount of rudder surface would appear to be excessive, but the designer of the " Valkyrie" sets great store on having a large margin of control. Several short flights were also made by Prier on the Anzani engined Bleriot on Saturday afternoon, most of them very low, but once or twice he ventured to a good height and planed down. On Monday Benson had some good practice on the " Valkyrie." " Flight" Copyright. Mr. Graham Gllmour, on his "Big Bat" flying at Brooklands with a passenger at dusk.
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