FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1910
1910 - 1034.PDF
DECEMBER 17, 1910. flyers, and he was very enthusiastic in his appreciation of the manner in which the movement had spread in America, where it had been taken up very strenuously by leading members of the Government, and looked like becoming a very powerful factor in the future protection of the United States. Mr. Clifford B. Harmon also expressed very enthusiastic views upon the same subject, and it transpired that it was mainly through the arrangements made by Mr. Harmon whereby Mr. Grahame-White made his historical journey across Washington, landing in front of the White House and the Army and Navy Departments of the United States Government. The photograph which we give this week of this remarkable incident, and the group of Government officials and others upon the same occasion, unquestionably gave an enormous fillip to this growing movement, which had already shown very strong signs of intense vitality in the United States. Mr. Grahame-White strongly advo cated the formation of an aeronautical reserve in Great Britain, saying that he was prepared in every way to place himself and his machines at the complete disposal of the Government; and there is little doubt that if some workable basis for an aerial corps could be arranged between the Royal Aero Club and the Government departments, in accordance with the suggestions which have for some time been put forward by the Club, that some move ment of the sort should materialise to the benefit of this country and aviation generally within a very short period of time. The fact that already the Royal Aero Club have placed at the disposal of the British Naval authorities two of the latest up-to-date aeroplanes on their Eastchurch flying grounds, which offer has been "without reservation accepted by the Navy Department, goes far to show the undoubtedly favourable attitude which those responsible for this section of our forces are inclined to take towards the movement. Amongst the more active flying members of the Club present were Mr. Cecil Grace, Mr. Astley, Mr. Sopwith, Mr. Greswell, Mr. J. T. C. Moore-Braba7on, and Mr. Mortimer Singer, who, everybody was glad to find, was completely recovering from his bad accident at Heliopolis, and hoped shortly to re-enter the flying arena and continue his early work as a pioneer. Aerial League Gold Medal for Mr. Grabame-Whlte. AT an afternoon reception held by the Aerial League at the Waldorf Hotel on Tuesday, Field-Marshal Earl Roberts presented Mr. Claude Grahame-White with the gold medal of the League in appreciation of his effort* in the advancement of British aeronautics. The guests were received by Lady Massie Blornfield and Lady Bam, while Sir William Hall Jones, High Commissioner for New Zealand, occupied the chair. In presenting the medal, Earl Roberts described it as a mark of admiration for the manner in which Mr. Grahame-White, who only learnt the art of flying in France last year, had borne himself as an aviator from the time of his gallant attempt in April last to win the London to Manchester prke to the time in October last when he won the Gordon-Bennett Trophy. Mr. Grahame-White, in replying, expressed his thanks to the Aeiial League for their medal and the reception, and said he was especially glad to have won the trophy, because it would mean that the greatest aviation meeting of the year would be held in Great Britain in 1911. Once more, as in his speech at the Aero Club banquet, Mr. Grahame-White paid a tribute to M. Leblanc for his splendid effort on behalf of France, and again urged the formation of an aeronautical reserve such as had been established in the United States. On the motion of General Arbuthnot, seconded by Mr. Roger Wallace, K.C., a hearty v.ite of thanks was accorded to Earl Roberts for presenting the medal. "Flight" Copyright. Mr. F. Straight on top of one of the hangars at Brooklands during the past season timing aviators in the air, IO32 (TQcifif] Mr. Grahame-White paying a visit on his Henry Fartnan to the White House and the War and Navy Departments, Washington, during his recent trip to America.—This is probably the most daring and successful practical flight so far accomplished. entrusted the privilege of proposing a toast in his honour, which task he very tactfully accomplished, incidentally emphasising the sportsmanlike character of our American cousins, and holding that any little troubles of their meetings were undoubtedly due to want of experience. A recital of the aviation work done and the trophies won by Mr. Harmon brought his appreciation of our American visitor to a happy conclusion. Every inch a sportsman himself, Mr. Harmon was loud in his praises of the unselfish and splendid work done by Mr. Grahame-White, and his remarkably sportsmanlike methods in his every action in America. He instanced his generous behaviour in, without hesitation, when he (Mr. Harmon) had smashed up his own machine at the Boston meeting, giving him (Mr. Harmon) the complete run of his aeroplanes, enabling him thereby to carry off a large number of prizes open to amateur flyers. It was no question of money, as Mr. Grahame-White absolutely refused altogether to take one penny in return for the use of the machine. It was just the action of one brother aviator to another, and that had instantly cemented such a firm friendship that he had come over to Europe with Mr. Grahame-White out of pure companionship and desire to be associated with him in his triumphal re-entry to England. In his concluding remarks Mr. Grahame-White was particularly keen upon the formulation of a pet scheme which he has had in mind for some time, viz., the formation of a British corps of
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
