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Aviation History
1910
1910 - 1068.PDF
(/ycHT DECEMBER 31, 191° A PLEA FOR THE SCHOOL AERO CLUB. By ROBERT P. GRIMMER, Secretary of Arundel House School Aero Club, Surbiton. ONE of the most common charges brought against us as a nation by the intelligent foreigner is that of an indifferent and lethargic attitude towards anything new. More especially has this applied to aviation, and the visitor from the Continent marvels at the lack of public interest in this country for such an epoch-making discovery as the science of flight. Aeronautics is destined eventually to revolutionise life on this planet, and while in the immediate future it will probably add to the general horror of war, it certainly will ultimately bring about an era of universal peace. For the present we can assume that aerial supremacy is fast taking the place of maritime supremacy, and that the British Empire is now far behind other countries in matters relating to aviation. The commercial aspect is of equal importance, and yet on this all-important subject of aviation the man-in-the-street is supremely indifferent. Have we any remedy for this national indifference ? Personally, I think we have one, potent, irresistible and infallible—the training in the principles of airmanship of our younger generation. This can only be effectively done through the medium of the school aero club. If only we can arouse the enthusiasm of our boys for aviation the future is secure ; for in the course of a few years these boys will be citizens, and realising as they will the immense importance of the new science, they will surely change the whole trend of public opinion. The future of the Empire lies in the air, and knowing this the coming generation will see that aerial supremacy is maintained, both from a military and a commercial point of view. The school aero club has, up to the present, been almost ignored, but its work, carried out on correct lines, is of the utmost value to the nation at large. At present, great and important discoveries in the new science of aviation may be made even by schoolboys. The kite provides lessons of considerable importance; itself a captive aeroplane, valuable data may be acquired in reference to atmospheric currents, wind pressures, &c. The ideal kite has yet to be evolved, and any improve ment on the kite in general will surely react on the power-driven flyer. The construction of even a man- lifting kite is not beyond the capabilities of a clever schoolboy, but needless to say, experiments in that direction should be carried out with great caution. Nearly every problem of fljght may be studied by the construction and flying of model aeroplanes, and it is more than probable that momentous discoveries will result from judicious experimenting with models. It is not beyond the bounds of possibility that a schoolboy might evolve the ideal plane or the perfect propeller, and even on stereotyped lines the average youth would acquire from his models a solid knowledge of the principles of aviation. Kite and model aeroplane flying are splendid and useful sports, but what of gliding ? This is indeed the real thing, and who can describe the sensations of actual flight ? The white-winged machine poised at the top of the slope, the helpers holding her down in the teeth of the wind, the initial run down hill, the increasing lift, the feeling that one is at last veritably and actually riding the breeze, the glorious sense of control over elevator and rudder, and too soon, alas ! the jarring contact with Mother Earth at the end of the flight. If our schoolboys only knew ! The construction of a man-carrying glider is by no means an impossible feat for the members of a school aero club, if they possess some little enterprise and perseverance combined with a general knowledge of the principles of carpentry, and the cost need not exceed a few pounds. Obviously the lessons to be learned from the glider are of incalculable importance. The glider pilot of to-day is the aeroplane pilot of to-morrow, and surely the aeroplane pilot is at present a crying need ? These are a few of the things that schoolboys can do for aviation if they have guidance and encouragement. In October, 1908, the writer founded, at Arundel House School, Surbiton, what was actually the first school aero club, and also the first model aero club in Great Britain. His object was to show that such a club was a possibility, and that it could be successfully carried on if properly organised. There are people who assert that the enthusiasm of schoolboys cannot be maintained for a long period ; the story of Arundel House School Aero Club would seem to point to the contrary. The members have never exceeded a score in number, and yet they have successfully constructed and flown man- lifting kites of large area, and have achieved actual flight with a full-sized glider. Both kites and glider were entirely designed by club members. They have made over a hundred model aeroplanes of every imaginable type; and flights of 1,000 ft. in length, and nearly a minute in duration, are frequently accomplished. They have given successful demonstrations at the Crystal Palace and elsewhere, and they have won over a dozen prizes in public competitions, frequently defeating even professional kite and model makers. To touch briefly on our organisation, the general affairs of the Club are managed by a President and Committee elected annually. We are also fortunate in possessing some very generous patrons, who take a keen interest in our welfare. The annual subscription is 5,?., and the senior and junior branches hold meetings on alternate Saturdays. We hold annually three championships, for " inventions," kites, and models respectively, and for these valuable prizes are given. The general public attend in great numbers, and the contests are regarded as important local events. There is. a club library, including all the standard works on aeronautics, and it is open free of charge to all members. I cannot pass on without paying a tribute to the splendid work of our Committee, who have always been most loyal and unselfish in their whole-hearted devotion to the Club. Three of them, I may say, are shortly taking up the profession of aviation. It has frequently been asserted that kite and model aeroplane flying is tame and devoid of interest. This is far from being the case, the work is distinctly full of incident, and one could really dispense with some of the element of adventure. I shall not readily forget a certain occasion when our kite-flying was brought to an abrupt conclusion by the advent of an irate game keeper, who asserted with quite undue emphasis that the sight of the kites had struck terror into the hearts of his pheasants, who had actually (so he said) mistaken them for hawks ! The first experiment we made with a large kite was certainly one that will linger long in our memories. The kite in question had an area of 80 sq. ft. and had obviously an immense pull. In our inexperience we were foolish enough to launch it in a gale, and to make sure that it would not fly away the maker securely fastened the rope round his waist. The result was that 1066
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