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Aviation History
1911
1911 - 0316.PDF
APRIL 8, 1911. finished the day by rendering first aid to Mr. and Mrs. Martin, who had a mishap upon a Grahame-White ."Baby" machine. The Valkyrie machine was flying near by when the Grahame-White machine turned upside down, and for a time matters looked serious. The Valkyrie pilot immediately flew to the hangars and back to the scene of the accident with medical supplies. The School machine was out on Friday very early in the morning, and indulged in a considerable amount of flying. Mr. Chambers had a lesson, and made great progress. In the afternoon passenger flights were given to Mr. Dimitry Alexandroff, representing the Russian War Office, Mr. Maasdorp, and Mr. Valentine. The Syndicate's pilot then gave an excellent solo demonstration at a height of about 300 ft., making several circuits of the aerodrome, and finishing with a vol flam' descent. Mr. Valentine then took a Valkyrie machine in hand for the first time. It was understood that at first he would attempt merely a short, straight flight, but finding the machine very easy to handle, he immediately rose to a height of 200 ft., covered two circuits of the aerodrome, and then cutting off his engine, made a perfect gliding descent. This is probably some what in the nature of a record. Midland Aero Club Grounds, Dunstall Park. MR. WILLOWS inflated his balloon at the Knowles Oxygen Works on Friday, March 31st, after waiting over six or seven days for a north-east gale to subside. The work of getting 42,000 ft. of hydrogen into the balloon occupied an hour and a half. He made a first-rate ascent out of a rather difficult position for a dirigible balloon, and it was only his method of movable propellers that permitted him to get away on Saturday afternoon. On Saturday afternoon, at two o'clock, he started from his hangar at the Midland Aero Club grounds for flying over Bir mingham. He got away very well and made excellent progress against what was at times a strong breeze. Halfway between Wallsall and Great Barr one of his feed pipes came adrift, and he decided to make a descent and put this right before getting over Birmingham. The descent was accomplished neatly in a field alongside the road, so that his mechanic and Mr. Gilbert Dennison, who were piloting him, could render assistance. Upon ascending again Mr. Willows made straight for Mr. Dennison's house at Handsworth Wood, and after circling there twice he went on to Birmingham, where he circled above the Council House and Town Mall a couple of times. A very big crowd had assembled in the square in front of the Council House, and they give the aeronaut a fine reception. Mr. Willows afterwards flew back via Handsworth Wood to Dunstall Park, the journey of 15 miles being accomplished in just over 35 minutes. In the evening Mr. Willows took up singly three passengers, and THE WILLOWS AIRSHIP.—Amongst the trips now being made In the country by Mr. Willows with his airship •was a very successful voyage to Birmingham and back from Wolverhampton on Saturday last. Our photograph shows the airship after its return, the principal figures in the centre being Mr. Dennison, Secretary of the Midland Aero Club, Mr. Willows, Mr. Leo E. Harris (Steward), Mr. Knowles, of Knowles* Oxygen Co., Captain Cook, Mrs. Willows, Mrs. Dennisoa, and Mrs. Cook. i/ijcnu engine to the school machine was completed by five o'clock and Ridley-Prentice took the machine out for a flight of five circuits, eventually landing en vol plant. Saturday was a day of big doings for the Grahame-White School, as in addition to excitement and enthusiasm caused by the appearance of all the school instructors on their various machines over the University Boat-race course, they had the satisfaction of seeing their pupil Lewis Turner qualify for his pilot-aviator's certificate, he being the first Englishman to win his " brevet " since the more stringent tests were imposed on the 15th of February last. Hubert was the first to fly in the morning, he taking the school Farman round the aerodrome for several laps by way of a test preparatory to starting for Putney. At about I.30 Mr. Grahame-White, with Mr. Compton Paterson as passenger, on the military Farman, Hubert on the school machine, and Clement Greswtll, Prier and Gustav Hamel on Gnome-B16riots, set off towards the Boat-race course. Striking the river at Kew they followed it to Putney, where they continued to carry out evolutions over the starting point of the classic race. After seeing the two crews start they descended, one after another, on the polo ground at the Ranelagh Club. Re-siartinp after a brief rest, Mr. Grahame-White (with his passenger), Prier, and Greswell returned in company to the London Aerodrome at Hendon, while Hamel and Hubert flew over to pay a call at Brooklands. On their way they noticed a biplane, which after wards proved to be Graham-Gilmour apparently en panne near Mortlake, but Gilmour had only descended to replenish his petrol tank. Flying due south they struck the London and South-Western main line, and followed it to the Brooklands course. Tea being partaken of, they mounted their machines and started their home ward flight to Hendon, which was reached safely and without incident. On Hubert's arrival, Lewis Turner mounted the machine and, in the approaching dusk and freshening wind, made his two test flights. He first made a series of five figures of eight over the regulation course, and in order that no doubt should exist about the matter he made a further series of five more, then mounted to at least 300 ft. On landing he was the subject of hearty congratulations. Ridley- Prentice, who has made nearly as rapid, and certainly as consistent, progress as his fellow pupil, Turner, made the closing flight of the day by remaining up for 20 mins. at an average height of 100 ft. on the school Farman. The writer is confident that it will not be long before he has the pleasure of chronicling another brevet won at the Grahame-White School. Valkyrie School.—" Valkyrie VII," the latest " type A" machine, piloted by the School instructor, on Wednesday last week was flying, and made numerous circuits of the aerodrome in very good style and 318
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