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Aviation History
1911
1911 - 0161.PDF
FEBRUARY 25, >n. FROM THE BRITISH Laffan's Plai 1. IN the absence of Mr. Cody, who has been lecturing in Leeds, there has been no flying here this week. The Paulhan machine has arrived at the Balloon Factory, and the Farman is now ready to go out. London Aerodrome, Hcndon. Bleriot School.—Tuesday morning of last week was fine, and the school machines were out early in the field, Messrs. Champion and Keeler indulging in a little rolling practice, making some good straight lines. Unfortunately the wind then sprang up, so the machine had to retire to the hangars, and nothing further could be done that day. Wednesday saw the arrival of a new pupil at the school, Mr. G. L. Low, of the R.A., Woolwich, who had his first lesson. Afterwards Mr. Clayton, who looks like qualifying for his certificate at an early opportunity, made a fine flight, circling the ground th>-ee times and landing in perfect style. Mr. Henderson, who is a promising pupil, also took charge of the helm, making a few straight lines. Thursday was a blank day, owing to a gale blowing. Friday also being very windy, Mr. Abercromby, another new pupil, received in the hangar his first lesson for the manipulation of the different controls of the machine. Then, in the afternoon, talcing advantage of a slight improvement in the weather, one of the school machines came out, and Mr. Low and Mr. Abercomby had another lesson, and made a very creditable show by keeping a fairly straight path. Saturday was another blank day, on account of a very strong wind. Another single-seater Bleriot monoplane arrived this week at the school, and one of the new Bleriot passenger monoplanes is ex pected in the course of a few days. The Grahame-'White School.—Monday morning of last week was not all that one could wish as far as temperature was concerned, but happily there was a dead calm. The three Grahame-White instructors gave an impressive demonstration of flying, all three being in the air together at times. Hubert opened proceedings at 10 o'clock by bringing out the Wolseley-Farman, which he had intentions of flying for one hour. After 20 minutes circling the aerodrome at a height of about 100 feet MIGHT] FLYING GROUNDS. he was forced to come down owing to an air-lock forming in the petrol pipe. As soon as he had descended Martin brought out the '' New Baby," the new racer built to Grahame-White's designs, and made a most excellent little trip of 20 minutes duration. During his first half-dozen circuits he maintained a good altitude, finishing his flight by three circuits not 6 feet from the ground, showing off effectively the little machine's speed. He was not content to rest over long, soon getting away again practising right-handed turns. On landing he expressed the opinion that the right-handed turn was decidedly more awkward than turning to the left, but it was in all probability simply due to the fact that the left-hand turn had become a habit and that it only required a little practice to render the right- hand turn equally simple. Hubert was soon at work again on his Farman with the Wolseley motor, and getting off the ground quickly covt red two laps of the aerodrome at an altitude of about 200 ft. Clement Greswell, with hopes of making a cross-country trip to Brooklands on the Gnome- Bleriot, ascended after lunch to ascertain if the weather conditions were suitable for the trip. Finding that a slight mist rather obscured landmarks he decided to postpone the attempt. Soon after he was up again, climbing steadily until an altitude of 200 ft. was reached, passing the boundaries over the country in the vicinity of the aerodrome. Passing over Edgware, he doubled back, following the main Edgware Road until he came to West Hendon. Here he steered at a sharp turn, and cutting off his engine made a superb vol plant' right back on to the aerodrome, a distance of approximately a mile and a half. J. V. Martin in the meantime was making some very good flights on the " New Baby" racer. On one occasion he took the head mechanic as passenger for a single circuit, thus demon strating the weight-carrying capabilities of this small-surfaced machine. Towards evening Martin rose to a height of about 400 ft., and struck out in the direction of West Ilendon. He made a wide circle round the town, and returned after an absence of about half an hour. Hubert then brought out the Wolseley-Farman once more, and in the course of a 30-minute flight rose to an altitude of about 500 ft., descending eventually en vol plant'. Meanwhile Clement Greswell had got off on the Gnome-Bleriot, a machine to which he is evidently greatly attached, and in the course of a very finished flight of 15 mins. climbed to at least
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