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Aviation History
1910
1910 - 0956.PDF
JySfiTj FROM THE BRITISH Royal Aero Club Ground, Eastchurch. THE weather here during the past week has been very squally, but the short spells experienced in which it was at all possible to venture out have been taken full advantage of by Mr. McClean on his Gnome-engined " Short " biplane. On Wednesday, the 9th inst., he brought out this machine, and despite a stiffish breeze immediately rose to about 100 ft. He was content, on this occasion, to remain within the immediate vicinity of the grounds, flying in circles and figure eights and executing several successful vols plani, at which, by the way, he is becoming quite an adept. One of these exhibitions was particularly clean, the machine approaching to within 15-20 ft. of the ground before the engine was re-started. Later in the day Mr. McClean was again seen to advantage, on this occasion making several short trips carrying a lady passenger. On Thursday, the 10th, Mr. McClean again brought out his machine and made a splendid flight of over an hour's duration. He frequently passed over Harty and the surrounding country, returning each time along the coast line, and ultimately effecting a good landing from a steady vol plane of some 150 ft. Friday was an impossible day, but on Saturday Mr. McClean beat all his previous performances by remaining aloft for well over an hour and a quarter. His journeyings on this occasion extended over Harty and Shellbeach on the one side, and Queenborough and Sheerness on the other. Mr. McClean's performances this season have been consistently good, and his total mileage since July now stands well over 600. His machine has behaved splendidly, and has not given the slightest trouble since leaving the works. Mr. Jezzi was out for some time on Saturday on his biplane testing the efficiency of the power plant in its new position, this having recently been altered to the front of the machine. Mr. Grace is trying a similar experiment on one of his " Short" biplanes, and we shall hope to give some particulars of the trials of both these machines, which will be held during the next week if weather conditions are favourable, in our next issue. Sunday and Monday were blank days, the weather being wretched. On Tuesday, the 15th inst., Mrv McClean brought out his latest Mr. Frank K. McClean and his first passenger, Dr. William J. S. Lockyer, with whom, on his Short biplane, he Hew on October 22nd at the Royal Aero Club grounds at East' church, Sheppay. Mr. McClean has been, as we record, making some splendid cross-country flights, one lasting for 1 hr. 6 mins. NOVEMBER 19, 191a FLYING GROUNDS. " Short" biplane. This is on the lines of the Farman, but embodies all the original features of Short Bros', productions. The machine was only completed on Monday, but after devoting about half-an- hour to the tuning up of its Gnome engine, Mr. McClean essayed a short trial. She rose at the first attempt in about 100 yards or so, and flying at about 50 ft. Mr. McClean completed several circuits before bringing her down. After lunch Mr. McClean was quickly off the mark, rising sharply to a height of some 150 ft. Keeping at this altitude he completed eight or nine circuits of the ground in good time, when he landed for a few further adjustments to the engine. Shortly afterwards he made a further flight, and this time gave a good exhibition of " planing." These three flights represented a total of some three minutes short of the hour—not bad for the first spin. The machine rides the wind beautifully, answers to the helm readily, and from all appearances will develop a good turn of speed when the engine is thoroughly tuned up. Brooklands Aerodrome. BAD weather and a dearth of smashes makes little to record at Brooklands this week. The aviators here, with only one or two exceptions, notably Mr. Gilmour, seldom go beyond the confines of the track, so that, unless an airman is competing for his certificate, circling the aerodrome provides little excitement. Four new flyers tried for and three obtained their pilot's certificate this week, Mr. Macdonald and Mr. Low, both on the Bristol-Gnome, Lieut. R. T. S. Smith on M. Blondeau's Farman, and Mr. Greswell on the Grahame-White School Farman (British built). This latter is now fitted with the larger size E.N.V. engine, and pulls well. Mr. Greswell, on his qualifying flights, encountered some very treacherous puffs of wind. The Spencer.Stirling machine, on Wednesday, the 9th, was out in the morning making very promising straight flights, and again later on at dusk. Mr. Sopwith, on the Howard-Wright monoplane, and Mr. Low, on the Bristol-Gnome, were making circular flights. M. Blondeau was also flying with a pupil, and Mr. Greswell, on the Grahame-White Farman, was doing well. Thursday, Mr. Sopwith and Mr. Greswell were again flying, the latter attaining quite an altitude—something between 200 and 300 ft., high flying for a novice. He put in his qualifying flights for his brevet. Friday, except for the Bristol-Gnome, proved a dies non from the aviation point of view. Saturday saw more flying, although nothing of a sensational nature. Three aviators qualified for their certificates, Mr. Low being unable to complete owing to darkness. Lieut. R. T. S. Smith, who has been taught by Blondeau, had only fourteen lessons, and never had a smash. Sunday, a blank day, owing to the weather; and the early part of this week was little better, only M. Blondeau and Mr. Watkins, who is doing remarkably well on his Howard-Wright monoplane, braving the mud and elements. It is rumoured that the monoplane, known locally as the " Elephant," namely, Mr. Jack Humphrey's large surface machine, is to lose its place of honour as the biggest machine here, in favour of an enormous biplane of novel design which is rapidly nearing completion. The Alexander engine tests are being seriously discussed in the aviators' meeting-place " The Blue Bird." The failure of the British engines on this important test is a matter of vital interest to the average British flyer, especially when we see the number of British engines at Brooklands gradually diminishing and Gnomes taking their place. Dunstall Park. ON Saturday, November 5th, Mr. Holder brought out his Humber Bleriot, and after numerous attempts to keep the machine on an even keel, discovered that the wire round his wing-warping pulley underneath the body had come unsoldered, allowing the wings to warp as they thought fit. Later in the day, after repairs had been effected, he made a number of short flights. On Monday, the 7th, Mr. Seddon brought out his huge tandem biplane for the first time for a run along the ground. The weight of the machine, however (which is somewhere between 20 and 30 cwts.), proved too much for the axle of the right wheel, which gave way under the load. This machine, which, it will be remembered, is fitted with two N.E.C. engines of 50-60 h.p. each and Beedle propellers, showed good acceleration powers in the short run before the collapse, but a speed sufficient to lift the machine was not attained. The stationary pull of the two propellers is something over 600 lbs. These are not in any way connected together, and both engines have to be run up to a certain speed and kept in unison. The machine in its short run turned considerably from, the straight path, presumably from this reason. It is, however,' we believe, Mr. Seddon's intention to connect both engines by a chain.
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