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Aviation History
1911
1911 - 0121.PDF
FEBRUARY II, 1911. [/iJCHf PARIS-BORDEAUX-PAU BY AEROPLANE. ONE of the most extraordinary journeys so far accomplished by aeroplane was that made on the 1st and 2nd inst., when Captain Bellenger succeeded in flying from Vincennes, just by Paris, to Pau ; the greater part of this journey, that from Paris to Bordeaux, being accomplished in one day. The morning of the 1st inst. was very cold when Captain Bellenger mounted his Bleriot machine for a trial trip round the ground at Vincennes, just to see that everything was in order. A quarter of an hour in the air was sufficient to satisfy the aviator, and on coming down he announced his intention of starting straight away. The petrol and oil tanks were immediately re-filled, and at 8.35 a.m. Captain Bellenger gave f Time 5h.lCm 5h13r 6h43m 16h.45m 50h40m Mh.42* 5^\ CAPT BE-LLtNGER. SUD" EXPRESS L L_ In view of the fact that Bordeaux is a favourite finishing point in connection with various sports in France, the accompanying diagram is interesting as showing the best time made by different means of locomotion. It will be seen that Capt. Bellenger and his Bleriot monoplane secure pride of place, beating the motor car by three minutes and the South Express by an hour and a half. the word " Lachez tout," and quickly rising to a height of 100 metres steered off in the direction of Etampes. The news that he had started was telephoned there and quickly spread, causing a crowd to assemble, which vociferously cheered the aviator as he passed soon after 9 o'clock. Keeping to the west of Orleans he passed over Blois and going straight on landed for oil and petrol at Pont Levoy at 10.32 a.m. Replenishments and adjustments did not take long, and, after snatching a brief rest, the aviator resumed his seat at 12.22 p.m. Almost immediately afterwards he was once more well up in the air and winging his way south. He had previously arranged to stop for lunch at Poitiers, and arrived there safely at 1.28 p.m. So far he had found the cold very trying but expressed his determination to get on to Bordeaux during the afternoon. At 2.45 p.m., all being again ready, Captain Bellenger started off, and, getting up a steady pace, he flew direct for Bordeaux, which citv was reached at 5.3 p.m., the descent being safelv made at the Croix d'Hins Aerodrome. Some difficulty was experienced in locating the flying ground, but on rising to a height of 400 metres Captain Bellenger discerned the hangars and recognised his " station." The gross time for the distance of 520 kilonis. was therefore 8 hrs. 28 mins., while the net flying time was 5 hrs. 21 mins. During the last stage of the journey the aviator said that he found the high wind very trying, especially in the neigh bourhood of Angouleme, and the large crowd of people which assembled there fully expected that he would have to descend. The aviator followed a route marked on a special map, which had been prepared by the Association Generate Aeronautique, and as during the day particulars of this route were published, large crowds of spectators gathered at various points to see the Captain pass and to cheer him on his way. On arrival at Bordeaux he took a well earned rest before completing the final stage on the following morning. By way of appreciating what this day's flight means had Captain Bellenger, instead of going south, proceeded in the direction of Great Britain, he could have reached either Plymouth, Cardiff or Birmingham ; while if, on the other hand, he had gone in the direction of Germany, he could have got as far as Munster, Frankfort or Stuttgart. If he had steered for Switzerland, Zurich could have been reached, while, if instead of going south-westerly he had chosen a south-eastern course, Grenoble would have been the point attained, and on the west Brest would have been the destination. The morning of the 2nd inst. was by no means an ideal one for flying, and it was not until well on in the afternoon that Captain Bellenger decided to make a start on the last stage of his journey. He spent the time in the morning looking over his machine and replenishing. Soon after 2.30 p.m., preparations were made for starting and at 2.50 p.m. the machine was in the air and heading for Pau, lyokiloms, awav. Captain Bellenger's arrival at Pau was anxiously awaited by the pupils of the various schools, and Lieutenants Malherbe and Leblanc both made aerial excur sions, hoping to announce his coming, but without result. The dirigible " Ville de Pau " also cruised in the neighbourhood, and soon after 4.30 p.m. sighted the missing aviator, who landed at the Bleriot Aerodrome at 4.45 p.m., and so ended the longest cross country trip yet recorded. The total distance of 690 kilonis. had been covered in four stages and the aeroplane had been in the air for 7 hrs. 5 mins. Having completed the journey to Pau, Captain Bellengcr at once announced his intention of flying back to Paris, but by a different route. He proposes to keep more to the centre of France, passing over Toulouse, &c, and making the journey to Paris in two stages. It is probable that this trip will prove to be but the first of a series over the classic route from Paris to Bordeaux. The two R.E.P. pilots, Pierre Marie and Laurens, have stated that they will attempt the journey and the former intends trying to get through without a stop. Maps for French Military Aviators. A NEW map is being published by the Geographical Department of the French Army. It has been drawn up by Major Pollachi especially for the use of military aviators, and the colouring has been so arranged as to approach as near as possible to that seen by the flyer. Roads, for instance, will be shown white, woods and trees green, and towns and villages in red, while spires, towers, telegraph wires are all clearly marked. The first section published deals with country round Chalons Camp. The World's Altitude Record. OWING to the fact that the barograph fitted to Hoxsey's machine was not calibrated at the time and that it was sub sequently destroyed in the smash which caused the aviator's death, it has been impossible to verify the record of 11,474 ft. and so the F.A.I, has not been able to accept it. In that case the world's record ' honour still remains with Legagneux whose height was 3,200 metres (10,746 feet). The Hindoo and Aviation. WRITING from India with regard to the flying which has been taking place in India, Captain Dawes says it is peculiar that while the European people take the greatest interest in aviation—perhaps even more than the people at home— yet the native looks un unmoved and regards flying as no more wonderful than a steamboat, a motor car or a railway train; 123
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