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Aviation History
1911
1911 - 0392.PDF
l/ycHTJ MAY 6, 1911„ FROM THE BRITISH FLYING GROUNDS. Royal Aero Club Flying Ground, Eastchurch. SINCE the advent of the naval officers at Eastchurch, training for their certificates, increasingly active work has been evident. After the brief spell of June weather last week, which enabled Lieut. Samson, K.N.,'and Lieut. Longmore, R.N., to gain their pilot certificates, the atmospheric conditions speedily relapsed to their old bad habits, so that it was impossible to get in more than a few hours' flying during the week. On Saturday, the 29th ult., it was blowing strongly from the S.W. all day, with the sky generally covered with threatening rain- clouds. Towards evening, however, a distinct improvement began to assert itself, and it was hopedr that it would become settled enough to allow Lieuts. Gregory and Gerrard to pass the tests for their pilot certificates. About 6 p.m., Mr. Cockburn went up just for a trial spin round the ground, and he having reported everything safe, Lieut. Gregory mounted the machine for his pilot run. Rising quickly into the air, after a run of some 20 yards only, he flew quite steadily, having the machine under perfect control, and making the first figure of eight lap in good curves. At this point, however, the wind freshened considerably, the event being signalled by the sharp cracking of the flag which marked the position of the official observers. The wind had sprung up with surprising sudden ness, bringing with it dark stormy rain-clouds, and it was quite clear that a squall was approaching. Although the aviator was, of course, feeling the effect of the changed conditions, it was evident he had not the slightest intention of coming down before he had completed the regulation course. The result was a really splendid flight, made under difficult conditions, and it was all the more surprising considering that Lieut. Gregory had not been in the air more than three times previously. When he finally landed he had duly qualified for the first half of his pilot certificate, but further flying was out of the question, as by this time it was blowing half-a-gale, much to the disgust of the two aviators chiefly concerned. Several flights were made on Sunday evening about 7 p.m., the Hon. Maurice Egerton making three cross-country flights, each of about 20 mins. duration. At $ a.m. on Monday the inhabitants of Eastchurch were awakened by the musical hum of a Gnome motor overhead. It proved to be Egerton returning from a cross-countrv flight on his new Short (No. 35) biplane. During the trip he had made the- circuit of the island, passing in his course Leysdown, Harty, Queen- borough, and Sheerness, and finally out nearer to Sittingbourne, the flight lasting I hr. 25 mins. _ •>** .1 At the same time Lieuts. Gregory and Gerrard were in the air, both qualifying for their pilot certificates with skilful flights. - * All the four naval officers nominated by the Admiralty have now taken their certificates under the new rules, after having averaged only three flights each, a fact which hardly requires comment in respect of Mr. Cockburn's tutelage and the capabilities of the Short biplanes, on which all the flights have been made. If emphasis were wanted of the remarkable, not to say natural, aptitude of the naval man as an aviator, it is surely forthcoming in the rapid acquirement of the art by these officers following so quickly upon that of Lieut. Parkes at Brooklands the previous week. Brooklands Aerodrome. TUESDAY, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday last week were all impossible days, owing to the high wind. •«» On Saturday a large crowd arrived to witness the start for the race to Brighton, but the weather was far from good, so the race had to be put off. Mr. Gilmour, however, took out the Bristol, and made a very fine flight in the height of the wind. Mr. Hamel later made a short flight on his Bleriot, then had to descend owing to his engine overheating. He found on examination that the oil service had got out of order. • ->-_^ Sunday was a perfect flying day. Aviators are early risers, and. work started at 4.30 a.m., Mr. Fisher being the first to take the air on the Hanriot. He and Mr. Oxley were flying off and on till 6.30 a.m. Mr. C. Jenkins was also out on the Roe biplane, and rose to over 1,500 ft., this being a very fine performance for a beginner. He demonstrated his complete mastery of the machine by steep vol planes, and sharp turns both to right and left. Mr. Kemp also made some figure eights on the same machine. Lieut. Snowden-Smith then rose ;to a great height on his racing Farman,. and descended with a very fine spiral vol plant. His engine had completely stopped when he reached the ground. Capt. Sykes then made a few flights on the Bristol, making several right- Mr. F. Conway Jenkins, one of the latest aviators to qualify for the Roval Aero Cli.h r,iW* , w L o~ , Green-engined Avro biplane, upon which he passed the tests on th7 30th ult In a 12 tl cem*Icate/ °n the 30-h.p. only Mr. Jenkins' fourth time on the Avro machine, and previous to th'„«•* 12~15 mf "h- wind- This was Brooklands for forty minutes at about 1,000 f, height, 'rising ^TbTl.SM'lSuiSS withT neat S& %£ 394
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