FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1911
1911 - 0067.PDF
JANUARY 2S, 1911 THE USE By " WE learn by our friends' misfortun' it is unfortunately very true in flight. Appended is a list of those who have given their lives for the cause of the new science, together with the brief reason for their mishap. In order to see clearly the many different causes 1 have drawn them up into the form of a table. Most of the classes are subdivided, but there is one heading which stands predominant. I refer to that which I have labelled " Circus Feats." These include all dangerous or unnecessary feats which have terminated fatally, and in many cases are due to the spectators more than to the victim, who has probably killed himself for their amusement. The weather we shall always have with us, but with the increase of speed wind will have less effect ; and. doubtless, we shall soon learn the science of air-pockets and streaks. The case of Wachter was probably caused by the rain warping some vital part of his machine. Faulty and inexperienced steering have also contributed. In the earlier days motors caused a great deal of trouble, but now, thanks to the advance of engineering, engine failures are of rare occurrence ; also a stop in the air does not now neces sarily mean a precipitate descent. Of the remainder we have faulty design or wear and tear of the machine, five. The sad case of Cecil Grace lost at sea through the absence of an efficient compass, and of Plochman unaccounted for. (Several leading medical men have sug gested that it would be quite possible for the different altitudes to affect the pressure of the blood and so injure the system.) Synopsis of Previous Accidents. pJGHT] OF ACCIDENTS. ' L'ESTRANGE." is an old adage, and Name of Airman. Nation ality. Where Killed. Date. Machine. Lieut. Selfridge American Washington 17.9.08 Wright M. Lefebvre ... French...! Juvisy .. j 7.9.09 Capt. Ferber .., French..J Boulogne ... 22.9.09 Voisin type He was flying low, and in attempting to turn, one wing tip touched the ground, overturning the machine. Capt. Ferber was pinned to the ground. Sen. Fernandez | Spanish... Nice ...j 6.12.09 Own design The machine suddenly stopped and dropped to the ground from a considerable height. M. Delagrange... French ... Pau... ... 4.1.10 | Rleriot At a height of 40 feet his left wing collapsed, due to having fitted an engine of 40-h.p. in place of the usual 18-h.p. Anzani. M. Le Blon .. j French ...! S. Sebastian | 2.4.10 j Bieriot Probably due to the same cause as the above. At height of 150 feet the planes collapsed and he fell into the sea ; his death was due to drowning. M. Michelin ... French ... Lyons ... 13.5.10 ; Antoinette Flying at dusk at a high speed he collided with a mark-post, which, breaking, fell on his head. Herr Robl ...German... Stettin ... 18.6.10 H. Farman High wind blowing ; crowd got dissatisfied at no flying. In descending from a height of about 200 feet was apparently caught in a squall and capsized. M. Wachter ...'French .. Rheims ... 4.7.10 : Antoinette Wings doubled up, probably due to the rain having warped some vital part. M. D. Kinet ... Belgian ... Ghent ... 10.7.10 H. Farman Fell from a height of 100 metres, supposed to be due to sudden stoppage of motor. Hon. C. S. Rolls ! British ...Bournemouth 12.7.10 Wright Bringing up too sharp after a vol plain!. M. N. Kinet ... Belgian ... Belgium ... 3.8.10 H. Farman A stay gave way and the machine was dashed to the ground. Strong wind was blowing. Lieut. Pasqua ... Italian ... Magliano ... 20.8.10 II. Farman Motor stopped and machine was smashed ; he was killed instantly. M. Maasdyk ... Dutch ... Arnheim ... 27.8.10 Antoinette Motor stopped and he lost control. M. Poillot ... French ... Chartres ... 25.9.10 Savary Machine was seen to suddenly tilt and fall to the earth ; probubly due to gust of wind. M.Chavez ... Peruvian Domodossola 27.9.10 Bieriot Strain after a vol plane. Herr Plochman German... Habsheim .. 2S.9.10 Biplane Fall from 150 ft. No explanation. Herr Hass ... German ...' Moselle ... 1.10.10 Wright (German) Motor stopped at a height of 500 ft. Capt. Matsievitch Russian ... St.Petersburg 7.10.10 II. Farman Turning up at too sharp an angle after a vol plane. Capt. Madiot ... French ... Douai ...23.10.10 Breguet First solo flight. Machine appeared unsteady and suddenly dived to the ground from a height of 100 metres. Probably due to bad steering. Lieut. Mente . German ... Magdeburg 25.10.10 Wright After a vol plane on restarting his engine he seems to have lost control. M. Blanchard ... French ... Issy-les-M. 26.10.10 Bieriot Planing down from about 30 metres machine appears to have got out of control. Lieut. Saglietti... Italian ... Centocelle.. 27.10.10 At a height of 50 ft. his machine refused to respond to the elevator, he tried to jump clear but fell, and machine crashed on top of him. Denver ...17.11.10 Wright Centocelle... 3.12.10 | Biplane may be due to the motor. Centocelle... 3.12.10 Lost at sea 22.12.10 Short-Wright R. Johnstone ... American Unnecessary vol planes. Eng. Cammarota Italian ... Suddenly capsized and fell; S. Castellani ... Italian Passenger in the above. Mr. C. Grace ... British Probably due to inefficient compass. M. Laffont ... French ...Issy-les-M. 28.12.10 Antoinette Unable to regain stability, due to a jammed steering wire. Mario Pola ... Passenger in the above. Lieut. Caumont French ...' St. Cyr ... 30.12.10 | Nieuport Flying at a high speed, machine did not answer her helm. J. B. Moisant ... American New Orleans31.12.10 '< Bieriot Monoplane dipped its head and dropped from a height of 100 ft. There were several very tricky air currents. A. Hoxsey ... American | Los Angeles 31.12.10 | Unusual currents of air. Machine fell from a height of 300 ft. and turned over twice ; aviator managed to retain his seat but was apparently killed by motor falling upon him. Table showing different causes. Non-mechanical. Unaccounted for. Out of 28 I Mechanical. Lost at sea. 14 Weather. JauK>' °rcu« steering, feats. Aeroplane. Wind. Kain. ~~T I 3 1 Stopped. Too heavy. Control. Design. Mr. F. K, McClean's "Short" Biplane. SPEAKING of the Short biplane with which Mr. F. K. McClean was about to make an attempt for the Baron de Forest Prize on the Sunday before Christmas, our special correspondent at the Royal Aero Club flying ground down at Eastchurch then used the words, " It was obvious that the machine was not up to the mark, and the engine not turning up to speed." In this connection we now learn that the trouble was wholly and solely due to a choked radiator owing to the presence of scale and sediment having found its way into the small tubes, the fault being in no way whatever connected with the builders of the aeroplane—which had flown well previously and has. since then carried passengers as well as a large amount of fuel and oil, using only about two-thirds as much power. Messrs. Short Bros, are naturally desirous that no misunderstanding should have arisen which could reflect adversely upon their justly-high reputation as builders of flying machines. 69 C 2
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
