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Aviation History
1911
1911 - 0139.PDF
as soon as Mr. Morison had landed Mr. Sopwith started out and circled round the ground several times. The wind dropped still further and Mr. Pixton, on the Avroplane, made several straight flights. Saturday was rather windy. Captain Wood was out on the Bristol at 8 a.m., and flew for a couple of circuits, then putting up Knight to fly straight lines in a 5 mile an hour cross wind, which he did excellently. In the afternoon Mr. Low flew continually, taking up passengers in a tricky wind. Later in the day, when the wind was well up, the Avroplane came out and Mr. Pixton made some straight flights. Mr. Gordon England again tried the Weiss, having changed the propeller and plugs. She lifted better, but while flying he noticed that he was getting wet from a stream of water. Having landed, upon examination, it was discovered that the water pump cover had burst. When Mr. Morison started he at once rose to a good height and circled round for some time. In landing he was caught by a side wind, but the Bleriot undcr-carriage adapted itself to the conditions as only a Bleriot can. Mr. Sopwith then took to the air and was very steady in spite of the 15 to 20 m.p.h. wind which was blowing. Mr. Low followed on the Bristol for a trip, finishing with one of his fine vols plane. By this time a very large crowd had collected, and there must have been over a hundred cars parked around the sheds. Mr. Ducrocq was out flying round the course several times. Mr. Sopwith was busy carrying lady passengers, and Mr. Morison, when flying with the wind appeared to be travelling at a great pace. Mr. Blon- <leau was carrying Mrs. Hewlett as passenger, and Mr. Pixton made some straight flights on the Avroplane with a passenger. Mr. Oxley took the Hanriot up, making several good flights. Sunday was another fine flying day, there being a great attendance. Mr. Morison made a very fine altitude flight -on his Bleriot, reaching a height of 6,000 ft., a record for Brooklands. Although daring he is a very careful flyer. Captain Wood did i£ hours school work on the Bristol before breakfast with Captain Sykes and Fleming, both holding the lever. About 5 p.m., when the wind was dropping, he took up Captain Sykes and Fleming for passenger flights. Mr. Gil- mour came out on " Big Bat," and indulged in some tricky flying. He went up with his bowler hat on. but finding it uncomfortable flew low past his shed, and, at the moment of passing, threw his hat overboard. Then turning fast he banked over to a terrifying angle and flew off round the ground. He handles the Bleriot with consummate skill and it is doubtful whether there is in England a pilot who could •equal him in trick flying. He is a great favourite with the crowd, as they enjoy that side of the sport. Mr. Sopwith was at work a great part of the day. His methods are different and he only has to be seen flying to ensure a good impression of his capabilities. Monday was calm all day. The Avroplane was out with Mr. Kemp up, he making some very good flights and covering •a circuit. Mr. Oxley also had a go on the triplane but kept very near the ground. He then changed over to the Hanriot and made several straight flights and two circuits. Mr. Persjo then took over the machine and after a few runs across the ground successfully attempted a flight. In a short time he was making circuits in a masterly manner, and with a little more experience he should make a first-class aviator, Mr. Ducrocq, having repaired some damage done on Saturday, wras out on his biplane. Mr. Blondeau was flying on his Farman with Mr. Hewlett. Mr. Watkins came out for the first time since the smash de Silvia had on his Howard Wright. Mr. Watkins carried Mr. Manning, the Howard Wright designer, for a flight. Mr. Oxley was out again on the Hanriot, and in trying to do a figure 8 came to grief, damaging one wing •and the under-carriage slightly. Before breakfast Captain Wood, on the Bristol, went up and flew about 35 mins. over Byfleet and surrounding country at about 1,000 ft., and vol planed down. Knight then tried his hand and flew his first circuit, afterwards making four more. After breakfast 'Captain Wood took up Fleming and Captain Sykes holding the lever, for passenger flights. In the afternoon Knight passed for his brevet, Mr. Ranee and Lieut.Watkins observing. He flew very steadily and had nice control of the machine. "Captain Wood then did a couple of circuits, finishing with a •circular vol plane from 500 ft. Captain Burke, of the Army Air Corps, also flew a circuit. London Aerodrome, Hendon. Bleriot School.—On Monday last week Mr. Frier went up for about 5 minutes on one of the School machines, but considered the "wind too high to allow the pupils to go out. Mr. Ewen, a new pupil, had his first lesson on Tuesday, which was fine. He showed remarkable ability to master the control of the machine, and after some rolling practice was able in the after noon to make short straight flights. Lieut. Foresiier-Walker, another pupil, was out for the first time. Wednesday and Thursday were devoted by Mr. Frier to testing the motors on the School machines. Friday was a busy day at the School. Mr. Danoch, one of the pupils, passed the first test for his certificate. Mr. Ewen made a few more straight flights, showing a marked improvement on his previous lessons. Two more pupils had their first theoretical tuition in the hangars, namely, Mr. Champion, an American, and Mr. Henderson, of London. On Saturday Mr. Darroch successfully passed the second test for his brevet ; Mr. Ewen, on another School machine, made two more straight flights, his landings being particularly good. Mr. Keeler, another American pupil, received the first theoretical notion of the controls of the machine. In spite of the windy morning on Sunday Mr. Darroch passed the third and last test necessary for qualifying for his K.Ae. Club certificate. The manner in which he handled the machine in the stiff breeze blowing at the time thoroughly demonstrated his skill as an able pilot. Another busy day was put in on Monday. The big event of the day was Mr. Ewen qualifying for his certificate. This, on the fourth day at the helm, is a very creditable achievement, proving the great aptitude of Mr. Ewen as an aviator, and also that practical methods are in force at the Bleriot School. Messrs. Champion, Keeler, Walker, and Henderson all had rolling practice until darkness closed down proceedings. Mr. W. H. Ewen, it is interesting to note, is a Bachelor ot Music of Edinburgh University, organist and choir master of Queen's Park Parish Church, Glasgow, and Associate Member of the Royal College of Organists. He is therefore the first graduate in music, and the first organist, to obtain his brevet in Great Britain. Valkyrie School.—Wednesday, the 8th, was too windy for flying nearly all day, but late in the afternoon the school instructor look out " Valkyrie IV " and made a pretty flight of about six miles, finishing with a vol plain'. The machine behaved with remarkable steadiness, although the air was by no means calm. Mr. Chambers then took out the school machine and made some excellent practice. The afternoon finished with another demonstration on the part of the Valkyrie pilot, who, quickly mounting to a considerable height, Mr. Hamel on one of the Grahame- White Bleriot machines at the London Aerodrome.
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