FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1911
1911 - 0201.PDF
ENTERPRISE IS TO BE ADMIRED IN EVERY FORM. —Messrs. Campbell-Gray, Ltd., the photographers, send us the above picture showing how anybody, flyer or prospective flyer, can be photographed in a real aeroplane at their establishment. The machine is one -which has done some flying, and was recently purchased by them for this very up-to-date purpose. Mr. Sopwith's Howard Wright, was in the air several times. If the present influx of the public is any indication of what one is to expect in the summer it looks as if one of the most popular "shows " of the season will be at Brooklands. The Committee will have to find some means to keep the people off the ground, as at present it is inclined to be hazardous to both the people and the aviators. Mr. Astley, who had never before flown a two-seater, put in some particularly successlul work on " Big Bat." Monday was fine and calm in the morning, but some rain fell in the afternoon- Mr. Kemp was out on the Avroplane in the morning practising vols flani. Mr. Sopwith was up in spite of the rain. He afterwards had a turn with the Howard Wright monoplane, but the engine was not running up to its form. Mr. Watkins took Capt. Maitland for a short trip, but did not remain up long as he found it none too easy to see in the rain. On Tuesday Sopwith and Ducrocq were the only two who were doing any flying. Laffan's Plain. SEVERAL days last week Mr. Cody devoted exclusively to kite flying and glider experiments. Major Sir Alexander Bannerman, who paid a visit to the hangar on Thursday, showed particular interest in this branch of aeronautics. On Monday, the appearance of the Farman Army aeroplane was the event. After a few short flights on Farnborough Common the machine was conveyed to Laffan's Plain, where several successful straight short flights were accomplished, varying from 50 to 300 yards, at an altitude of from 20 to 35 ft. The morning's work was brought to a close through a slight accident, the breaking of one of the skids, caused by a dip of about 6 or 8 inches in the ground. Mr. Cody was also flying, and the two machines were frequently in the air at the same time ; at one time Mr. Cody followed closely up behind the Farman in the backwash from the latter's propeller, a condition which had no perceptible effect on his machine. Mr. Cody made two passenger flights—the first that he has under taken for a monetary consideration—the proceeds being handed over to a local church fund. London Aerodrome, Collindale Avenue, Hendon. Bleriot School.—The week opened badly, Monday and Tuesday being very windy, and although on Wednesday it was still windy Mr. Prier took the new School machine out for a trial, flying severail circuits. He also gave an exhibition of his skill and clever handling of the Bleriot monoplane for the benefit of a cinematograph operator. On Friday afternoon, taking advantage of a comparative calm, Messrs. Champion, Keeler, and Henderson in turn took charge of the helm of one of the School machines, and indulged in some rolling practice, but the wind proved troublesome, and they experienced some difficulty in steering a straight course, so the work for the day came to an end. Saturday was once again a blank day. On Monday morning several of the pupils were out on the School machines, showing marked progress. Mr. Hamel's Bleriot 50-h.p. Gnome arrived this week from Issy, and Mr. Hamel, who is taking up his quarters at the Bleriot School, will continue to practise on the Hendon ground, and probably take a hand in the Hendon-Brooklands prize on Saturday, weather per mitting. Another Bleriot 50-h.p. Gnome of the latest pattern is also expected next Tuesday. Grahame-White School.—It seemed rather a paradox that the the month of March should open with a day free from the wind that had been raging almost incessantly for the previous three weeks. The staff pilots were not at all slow in their appreciation of the lull, as soon after ten o'clock Hubert wheeled out the school Gnome-Farman and put in a good flight of half an hour's duration, during which time he mounted to an altitude of over 500 ft. Greswell's Gnome - Bleriot, which had undergone overhauling operations during the bad weather, was the next to appear, and after a preliminary engine test he got away. Quickly spiraling up to an altitude of over 1,000 ft., he made wide circuits of the aero drome, indulging in short excursions over the surrounding country. After a flight of 45 mins. duration he descended en vol plant', While both Hubert and Greswell were in the air together, Martin got away on the " New Baby" racer, the three making an imposing spectacle as they flew round the ground at different altitudes. The " New Baby " now shows considerably better form since a larger diameter propeller was fitted. Her " get-off" now is quite as smart as that of the Gnome-Bleriot. Martin covered three complete circuits, but was compelled to come to earth on the fourth owing to engine trouble. Flying was not on the bill on Thursday, owing to the wind and fine rain. Friday the 3rd was more avourahle, and Greswell was the first to start, he flying the Gnome-Farman for the first time for several weeks. The wind was still strong enougli to render things none too pleasant for the aviator, but notwithstanding this, Martin took a turn after Greswell's descent, making a short solo flight. On landing, Ridley-Prentice, a pupil, took his place in the passenger-seat, and the two were soon away, flying six circuits at at average height of 50 ft. On coming to earth, a gust apparently caught the machine, and R landed rather more forcibly than was intended. Nothing seemed to break, until the machine pulled up and then the front four chassis struts gave out, letting the front part down and lifting the tail high in the air. M. Prier, the clever Bleriot School instructor at the London- Aerodrome, Hendon, and on the right M. C. L. A. Hubert, who is the second Frenchman to obtain his pilot-aviator's- certificate in England. 203
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
