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Aviation History
1911
1911 - 0013.PDF
JANUARY 7, 1911. FROM THE BRITISH Royal Aero Club Flying Ground, Eastchurch. DURING the latter part of December the Dunne machine met with an unfortunate accident. Barton, who was flying the machine, attempted to turn sharply while near the ground. The front skid broke off short, and caused the machine to turn completely over. Fortunately Barton was wearing a helmet at the time, which un doubtedly saved his life, he escaping with a few bruises and shock only. The machine was a total wreck. In the Christmas week, Robert Loraine made a few practice flights on the Friday morning, on his Howard Wright biplane, and was out again the following Monday trying some alterations. It is Very hard to realise that Grace is gone, as he was one of the first to start here, and has been at Eastchurch continually since, practising, training, working scientifically and practically, with a quiet enthusiasm and devotion that should be a model for future aviators. So thorough was he in his methods that it was not sufficient for him to read some theory in a book, he would attempt to prove it, or disprove it, for himself in the air. On Thursday the 29th ult., Loraine started out about II a.m. but his engine failing he was forced to land just outside the flying ground; unfortunately he • was unable to prevent his machine running into a dyke, his machine being badly damaged. At 3.30 Greswell made a trial flight on his Bristol biplane, which is fitted with an E. N.V. engine, making three fine flights, on the last attaining a height of 300 feet.. r On Friday,-the 30th, Greswell was at 10.30 out again practising with extensions fitted. The machine appeared to be flying with the tail very high and Greswell complained that he could not rise. He afterwards made a number of short flights. Jezzi came out at 3.15 and after a preliminary trial flew the necessary three flights for his certificate. On a further flight he ran short of petrol and made an involuntary vol plan? in good style from a height of 50 feet, but by ill chance he happened to be outside the flying ground, and like Loraine, ran into a ditch before he could turn. There seems to be a real need for brakes, or better still some system of drawing up the wheels so that the skids alone take the weight after the first shock of landing. On Saturday, the 31st, Greswell made several practice flights but the fog was so thick that a start for the Channel flight was out of the question. Mr. Morrison, who, on his Ble'rlot last Saturday, made such fine flights from Brooklands over Weybridge, reaching an altitude of about 1,000 ft. [/OcHf] FLYING GROUNDS. Mr. Maurice Ducrocq flying on a Henry Farman at Brook- lands in an attempt upon the 100 Miles Passengfr-carrying Record. Note the boy scout in charge of one of the lantern- bedecked "mark-posts" of the course. Brooklands Aerodrome. MR. SOPWITH, having on his Howard Wright gained the Baron de Forest Prize, and incidentally ^4,000 of the best, hurried his machine back home. He had heard that Mr. Ogilvie threatened his position for the Michelin Cup by flying 130 miles at Rye in 3 hrs. 55 mins. on the 28th. He made an attempt on the 29th to lower this record. Weather conditions, however, proved unfavourable, as starting early in the morning, after 67 miles he was obliged to descend owing to the increasing wind. Again on Friday he had a try, flying 65 miles, and again from the same cause he was obliged to give in. Nothing daunted, Saturday morning saw him once more soaring aloft with conditions more favourable, no wind, but rather foggy and very damp. He started at 9.40 and remained in the air until 1.48, circling the aerodrome steadily for 92 circuits, covering 150 miles 1 fur. 26 yds. 2 ft., being away from Mother Earth for 4h. 7m. 17s., as against Mr. Ogilvie's 139 miles. Mr. Sopwith took up sufficient petrol for 150 miles' flight, and only coming down when his petrol was finished. It was, therefore, pretty hard luck for him that at the same time the prize was being taken from him by Mr. Cody on Laffan's Plain, who put up 185 miles 787 yds. in 4 hrs. 47 mins. Sharing the honours of the week with Mr. Sopwith is Mr. Morrison in his daring high flying. In skill and technique his handling of his Gnome-Bleriot is equal to the best Continental exponents, whilst the angle at which he rises must be close on 15", and is certainly greater than was noticed at Rheims last year when Cattaneo made his name for his rapid ascents. Mr. Morrison rises in a few minutes to close on 2,000 feet, and makes a short cross-country flight. Maintaining his altitude he shuts down his engine, descending in a spiral, after the most approved—and dangerous-^-method. The only other flights of interest this week were provided by M. Blondeau on his Henry 13
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