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Aviation History
1910
1910 - 0972.PDF
I/LICHTI The Bristol instructional machine having been refitted with the Gregoire engine was taken out by M. Edmond, who did several circular flights in a wind of about 12 to 18 miles per hour. In the afternoon the wind somewhat increased, but Mr. Low was able to take out the Bristol (with Gnome motor) for a couple of circular flights, landing into the wind as much as possible, but the wind increasing closed down the trips. Mr. Low promises well and is making really good progress. We shall expect to see him going further afield in the near future. Mr. Jenkins and Mr. Beattie, two of Mr. Roe's latest pupils, were out for the first time, and the Otazell (Coilyer-Lang) monoplane, Mr. Lang in the seat, also made its appearance. On Saturday, a new pupil, Mr. Bendall, arrived at the Bristol School and commenced rolling practice, and later in the day- achieved some straight flights. No fewer than eight machines turned out on Sunday afternoon. Messrs. Beattie, Jenkins and Pixton with the Avroplane, Mr. Gilmour with first the Martin-Handasyde and then his " Big Bat," Captain Wood on the Bristol-Gregoire, Lang and Macfie completing the number. Mr. Gilmour took up Mr. Handasyde on his Gnome- Bleriot, and felt the wind at an altitude of 100 ft., although near Mother Earth the flags hung close to their poles. This has often been observed at Brooklands, lying as it does in a hollow, sheltered in some parts by trees. Mr. Macfie's trial was the most interesting event of the week to the British aviators, he having fitted the new Empress engine, the first one to take the field, and we hope very shortly the air. Every assistance and encouragement possible should be given to this British rotary engine, and we hope it will come up to the maker's ex pectations. The trial showed that more tuning up will be required, but we shall hope to give a good account of it next week. Mr. Sopwith provided some excitement on Monday, the 21st. He brought out his new Howard Wright biplane for the first time. He did rolling practice in the morning, straight flights before luncheon, circuits in the afternoon, and qualified for his "ticket" before dark. Most aviators wou'd then have rested on their laurels, but Mr. Sopwith went further still, commencing passenger flights, taking up Mr. Manning for an aerial spin. Mr. Snowden Smith, on M. Blondeau's Farman, made a good cross-country flight. Rising to about 200 ft., he left the aerodrome, flying to Byfleet, making a splendid trip of about 20 mins. duration. In the evening, in a good calm, the Bristol-Gnome was out, and Mr. Low did some fine flights in passing the second test for his pilot's certificate. M. Edmond also took Capt. Wood and Mr Bendall for some passenger flights, at times rising to about 300 ft. Mr. Pixton, on the Avroplane, found difficulty in keeping aloft, owing to unsuitable propellers. The " Neale VI " was also out,*testing propellers. Mr. Billings has purchased Mr. Moreing's Voisin (the first machine piloted by Captain Maitland), long hidden away in Shed 2. He brought it out for a trial run, and it showed its appreciation of regaining its liberty by charging straight for the sheds, but a crowd managed to hang on to different parts of the machine, checking its career with one plane just touching the shed. The cause was the failure of the switch to stop the engine. On Tuesday afternoon Mr. Smith made the three flights necessary for his certificate on the Bristol-Gnome, flying at an altitude of 100 ft. Mr. Low completed his qualifying flights. Mr. Sopwith was out flying at a good height on his biplane. Mr. Hubert on the Grahame-White Farman, flying in a heavy mist in the late afternoon, landed in the sewage farm, breaking the under chassis. Freshiield Aerodrome near Liverpool. A GOOD deal of activity has taken place at this little aerodrome lately, where there are now five sheds, each occupied by an aeroplane. In Shed No. I is a biplane own by Planes, Ltd., with which considerable success has been attained by Mr. Fenwick. He has accomplished several short flights, and on Saturday last flew to Southport and back in 24 mins. From experiments made by Mr. Fenwick, this machine appears to be remarkably stable. In the second shed is housed Mr. Paterson's Curtiss machine, which will soon be superseded by an improved biplane titled with a 50-h.p. Gnome engine. Mr. Melly's Ble>iot machine occupies the third shed, while a similar machine, belonging to Mr. Higginbottom, is in No. 4. The fifth shed has only just received its occupant, in the shape of a new Henry Farraan machine, and in view of the wide experience of the owner a good deal should be heard concerning this in the near future. On Monday Mr. Melly flew over to South- port, and a little later his example was followed by Mr. Fenwick. Both flew back to Freshfield after a few minutes rest. The London Aerodrome. DURING the morning of Tuesday last week the Bleriot school had two pupils, Mr. Bouwens and Capt. Board, out for some NOVEMBER 26, 1910. 20 mins. each, when rolling practice was indulged in. The way the pupil with each lesson attains iurther proficiency is most marked. " Valkyrie III" (small type) was out, and made a number of successful flights, in one of which the pilot flew rather more than three complete circles of the aerodrome. In the afternoon it was both windy and wet, and no one was out. Next day the weather proved altogether too rough for flying. On Thursday, in the afternoon, "Valkyrie III" was again out, and made three good flights, each of about two and a-half circles of the aerodrome. At dusk "Valkyrie II" (the three-seater passenger carrier) was taken out for the first time. At the first attempt it lifted easily and flew about half a mile ; it then made a full circuit of the aerodrome, when descent had to be made owing to the dark ness. The machine behaved very well, rose quickly, and flew with very little power. M. Prier took out the Bleriot-cum-Gnome, and made a fine flight over the aerodrome and surrounding country, attaining a height of 1,200 ft., from which he came to earth by means of a singularly daring vol plane, in which he turned several times with great dexterity. The pupils, Mr. Bouwens and Capt. Board, were both out in the morning, the former being only out for a short time, while the latter was out rather longer. The termination was rather sudden, as when flying he came rather too neat the sheds and had to alight too sharply, with the result he broke his pro peller. Friday and Saturday were blank days again, owing to the un- propitious weather. The weather on Sunday was not quite perfect, a slight wind disturbing an otherwise ideal afternoon. The "Valkyrie" three- sealer made several fine flights, totalling to nine circuits, including one of about four complete circuits of the aerodrome, in addition to several straight flights for the benefit of a photographer. The pilot had intended to put up a longer flight, but was not sufficiently clothed to stand the intense cold. On Monday a good deal of work was done. After a somewhat breezy morning the afternoon proved bright and calm, although it was always very cold. Capt. Board came out first, and showed marked improvement on his last lesson ; in fact, he left the ground and flew for a short distance at a height of about 15 ft. In the course of the lesson he got very close to the sheds, and it was only by means of a dexterous turn that he got down safely. Mr. Bouwens then went out for a short time and made four creditable flights, in which he showed marked ability in turning. The monoplane belonging to Mr. Everett was also out, with Mr. E. Clutterbuck as pilot for a time, and later with Mr. Everett. The machine indulged in rolling practice. The event of the afternoon, however, was the flying of the Aero nautical Syndicate's " Valkyrie II " (the large three-seater passenger- carrying type). After a short trial trip, the pilot took up three passengers—Mr. Clutton, secretary of the London Aerodrome, Mr. Laborde, assistant secretary of the Aeronautical Syndicate, Ltd., and Capt. Board—one after the other. Each passenger was carried about a circuit of the ground, and a few short runs, at an average height of 50 ft. from the ground. The machine was wonderfully steady, and the unanimous opinion of the passengers was that she was exceedingly comfortable, and well adapted for observation purposes. Altogether a creditable record of work for the week. The Aeronautical Syndicate are to be warmly congratulated on the great success attained by their three-seater. This large Valkyrie has proved not only that she can fly but that she has all the stability of the small machines. Salisbury Plain. THE week has been one of severe cold, but on Monday the Bristol biplane was out at midday in charge of M. Tetard. He first of all took up Mr. Herbert Thomas as a passenger and flew for some distance, when the E.N.V. engine commenced to missfire, and the machine came down with a rush from about 200 ft. ; but in spite of this a safe landing was made. After the engine had been tuned up, M. Tetard took the Bristol out again. He mounted very steadily and was soon away out of sight, after a while coming into view again on the far side of the school hangar. He then continued his flight over the village of Amesbury, ending with a magnificent vol plane, commencing just over the sheds from a height of about 1,000 ft., the distance of the cross-country flight totalling about 18 miles. It was freezing hard at this time, but after he had warmed his numbed limbs, he again took the machine out with Mr. Herbert Thomas, one of the pupils, as a passenger. The machine rapidly rose to a height of about 500 ft., and during this flight the pupil took the lever under the instructor's guidance. After a flight of about 25 minutes duration, the flight finished with the usual gliding flight. Several of the " Bristol " School pupils will during the coming week be finishing their course of .instruction, having pro gressed very rapidly. 970
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