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Aviation History
1911
1911 - 0369.PDF
APRIL 29, 1911. l/TiOHT] FLYING IN FRANCE. SOME OBSERVATIONS DURING THE EASTER HOLIDAYS AT THREE FLYING CENTRES, ISSY-LES-MOULINEAUX, JUVISY, AND CHALONS CAMP. By E. KEITH DAVIES. Issy.—At Issy there are two dirigibles and 20 aeroplane hangars, or the most part occupied by the lesser known firms and numerous experimenters. Flying was not permitted till 4.30 in the afternoon, when several machines came out, the most interesting being the latest Pischoff, the Vinet, and an all-steel Voisin. The Pischoff machine is certainly unique, and gives one the appearance of a small car with a monoplane attached about 4 ft. above as an afterthought. The chassis is composed of strong wood side members, attached to which are two skids and a very strong steel axle and pair of wheels. The engine is placed in front with a car radiator, starting-handle, bonnet, and scuttle dash a la Brook- lands racing car, the pilot and passenger sitting side by side. The power is transmitted from the engine by a plate-clutch and cardan- shaft and then by a chain to the propeller running at half engine speed, which is fitted behind the main planes close up to the trailing edge. It is very novel to see the pilot take his clutch out, go round to the front, start up, get comfortably seated, accelerate the engine, and away. The machine flies very nicely in a straight line, but assumes some weird angles when turning. It is flown by the inventor, M. Pischoff, who in the evening left for Juvisy, arriving at the latter place safe and sound. The Vinet is an enlarged Demoiselle type of machine, very well made, and fitted witha40-h.p. E.N.V. It flies very well, but does not look as if it could stand very rough usage. The Voisin is a very fine piece of work of the military type biplane, with extensions, 70-h.p. Gnome engine, no front elevator, and single monoplane tail; the framework is all steel tube. Other machines to be seen were the Kaufman, Prier's London to Paris Bleriot, several imitation Farmans and a few freaks. Juvisy.—A flying ground about the size of Brooklands, inhabited by 19 hangars, chiefly occupied by unknown machines, with the exception of the Goupy, Sloan, and Pischoff. The Sloan machine is rather interesting and is a serious attempt to obtain stability by the shape of the main planes. It is a biplane with a monoplane fuselage, Gnome engine in front and a geared down propeller. The lower planes are set at a dihedral angle and the upper are concave, both planes tending to meet each other at their extremities. The machine behaves very well in the air and has many good points in its construction. Champel, the old Voisin pilot, who was at the Lanark meeting last year, is also established here, and turns out a very fine copy of the Farman, fitted with a 60-h.p. E.N.V. He took out a new machine for the first time, and had a singular mishap. His soft wool hat blew off, and catching the propeller, took a piece clean out; the hat was picked up afterwards in shreds. The Goupy machines, now fitted with extensions, were out doing some fine work, one fitted with a 70-h.p. Gnome being very speedy. The usual number of freaks were to be seen. Chalons.—The first thing that strikes one on arriving is the vast extent of perfect flying area. As far as one can see the land is flat; good landing and very few trees. The headquarters of the Army Aeroplane Corps are here, and over fifty military machines, officers and men, all ready for mobilisation at a minute's notice. One can nearly always see one or two Army machines in the air, distinguished by the tricolour painted on the rudders. The following firms are established on ground adjoining:— Antoinette, Farman, Sommer, Hanriot, Nieuport, Voisin, Train ; the Farman works being very extensive. At one time there were as many as eight machines in the air at once, and all out for long flights round the surrounding country. Wynmalen, the Farman pilot, was out doing some of the finest flying one could wish to see. His turning movements at a banking angle of about 35 degrees, flying at a height of three to six feet, ami following the undulations of the ground, then suddenly climbing to a good height, and shutting off his engine and finishing with a perfect spiral vol plane. The Antoinette machines were doing good work, and flying exceedingly steady. On close inspection there does not seem to be any alteration from last year's model. The Nieuport, fitted with a 50-h.p. Gnome, is very speedy and rips through the air at 65 to 70 miles per hour, and requires a fair amount of room for landing on account of its running along the ground for some distance before coming to a standstill. The Train is another Demoiselle type of machine, made very well and fitted with a 5-cylinder Anzani engine. It was a remark able sight to see such a small machine over a thousand feet high and coming down with the engine cut off. . • Things that strike one in France at the present moment are, the adoption of extensions on every type of biplane, the great number of Gnome engines in use, and the general feeling that aviation is the thing. ® ® " Flight" Copyright. Visitors arriving at the (lying grounds at Broaklands last Saturday (or the Brighton (light. 371
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