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Aviation History
1911
1911 - 0072.PDF
FROM THE BRITISH FLYING GROUNDS. Royal Aero Club Flying Ground, Eastchurch. So far as any actual flying is concerned the past week has been practically a blank one, the only exception being on Sunday, when Mr. McClean was out and took up his sister for a cross-country flight over Harty Road Station, Capel Hill, &c. Subsequently he also made a second trip over the marshes, being accompanied by Mr. Morris Bidder. Brooklands Aerodrome. ALTHOUGH, in comparison with the previous week, there is not a great deal to report in connection with Brooklands Flying Ground, each of the last few days has seen a good deal of practice and experimenting on the part of the occupants of the sheds there. It is noteworthy that several of the flyers have been trying one another's machines, and Mr. O. C. Morison, who has hitherto confined his attentions to monoplanes, was given a trip with Lieut. Watkins on the Howard Wright biplane on Wednesday week. On Sunday he was also out on the Macfie biplane belonging to Mr. Valen tine, although this essay ended in an over-sudden landing, fortunately without any serious results to the aviator. As we mentioned else where Mr. Maurice Ducrocq is making a speciality of passenger flying, and on Friday of last week made a couple of splendid trips with two passengers besides himself on board. The first time the live weight carried was 31 stone 4 lbs., while in the second the live weight was 32 stone 12 lbs., and when it is remembered that the machine is one built for racing it will be recognised that these performances were very good. During the morning of the same day Mr. Pixton, who has just obtained his pilot's certificate, was out on the Roe triplane and ventured outside the limits of the aerodrome in the direction of Byfleet. A second trip was brought to a conclusion by the engine giving trouble, and in the sudden landing the chassis was somewhat crumpled up. Several tests were also made by Lieut. Watkins with Mr. Billings' biplane, which, originally a Voisin, has now been rebuilt and more closely resembles the Farman type. Later Mr. Billings himself was at the wheel, and made one or two straight-line flights. On Saturday morning, under the guidance of Mr. Astley, a new aviator, who flies under the nom do guerre of " E. Smith," made the necessary flights to obtain his pilot's certificate, which has since been granted by the Royal Aero Club. In the afternoon both Lieut. Watkins and Mr. Ducrocq made several flights with passengers, among whom were a number of ladies. Laffan's Plain. ON Thursday of last week Mr. de Havilland had his biplane out, and was flying for two hours around Laffan's Plain. Although a stiffish northerly breeze was blowing, it was noticeable that the machine was flying much more steadily than on his previous trip. On Monday Mr. Cody was out, and made several trips with pas sengers, including Major Sir Alexander Bannerman and Lieut. Cammell. In one of these trips he chased after the " Beta," and succeeded in getting past her. London Aerodrome. Grahame-'White School.—Those fortunate enough to be at Hendon on Sunday week witnessed quite an unexpected exhibition. A visit was paid to the Grahame-White school and works by Mr. Hamel, who, using one of the school 50-h.p. Gnome-Bleriots, gave in the course of two excellent flights a splendid demonstration of his skill, Mr. Hamel is evidently a specialist in high flying, as during his second flight he attained an altitude of well over 1,500 ft., coming to earth en vol plant! at a very fine angle. No flying was indulged in on the three following days. The works, however, were fully occupied, their attention being centred on the assembling of the new Grahame-White biplane and the all- British E.N.V.-engined Farman. The Anzani-Bleriot was also thoroughly overhauled and tuned up. On Thursday, Greswell brought out the ancient " Blue Bird," and at his first attempt made an extremely satisfactory straight flight across the full length of the ground, maintaining an average height of about 30 ft. He continued practising throughout the afternoon, and retired to the hangar at dusk with a flight of three circuits to his credit. This with an engine that was only pulling on an average 160 lbs. 'Valkyrie," with a pupil in charge, at the London Aero drome. On the following day he was also out practising on the " Blue Bird," and giving instruction to Martin, who showed his ability to roll in straight lines, a difficult thing for a beginner on a monoplane. The all-British E.N.V. engined Farman " took the air" on Saturday for the first time since its appearance at Dover, when the tent fell on it, and when a relic-hunting crowd succeeded in making off with one aileron, the whole of the trailing edge, and of nearly all the " tendeurs." Nice amiable idiots the average gaping crowd. Mr. Grahame-White flew it round the aerodrome for three or four circuits, then descending, as he found the engine was not pulling as well as it might. Greswell was also out flying on the school Anzani-Bleriot. Valkyrie School.—Thursday and Friday of last week were good flying days, and the pupils took full advantage of it. On Thursday Mr. Eadsforth, a new pupil, took his first lesson, and from the way he managed the machine it appears that he will make a very good pilot. On the following day Lieut. Dimmock executed altogether some fifteen circuits of the aerodrome in excellent style. Unfortunately in the end he met with a slight mishap, and made rather an abrupt ac quaintance with the boundary fence of the aerodrome. The damage done, however, was only slight, and Lieut. Dimmock hopes to get his pilot's certificate at the first available opportunity. The big passenger-carrying .machine was out and several demonstrations were made. Saturday was rather too windy for the pupils, but the school pilot took out the No. 2 machine and made some good circular flights. The feature of the day's work on Monday was the trial trip of the new No. 4, which rose from the ground at the first attempt and made a good circular flight. Tuesday was again too windy for pupils but several trials were made with No. 4. FLYING WORK AT THE LONDON AERODROME.— The "Valkyrie" three-seater ready to start with a full freight- and in flight. 74
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