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Aviation History
1911
1911 - 0420.PDF
1/0051) MAY 13, 1911. FROM THE BRITISH Royal Aero Club Flying Ground, Eastchurch. THERE was a continuance of the fine weather at Eastchurch during last week, and a considerable amount of flying practice was possible, including a number of volsflani. In this very essential part of an aviator s training the Naval officers here are becoming very proficient, and some good glides were witnessed during the week. On Wednesday, Lieut. C. R. Samson, R.N., was out on the Short biplane, making a fine cross-country flight to Sheerness, passing out over the warships lying at anchor, and being greeted in his flight by a chorus of sirens from the shipping below. Thus, for the first time in the history of the British Navy, one of its officers has flown over the Fleet, an event which marks another little notch in the progress in aviation in this country. Returning by way of Warden Cliffs, Lieut. Samson completed the journey with a vol tlane from a height of 600 ft., alighting at the door of the aeroplane shed. Earlier in the day Lieut. A. M. Longmore, R.N., on the same ^machine, ascended to a height of 2,000 ft., from which elevation he had an excellent view of the Island of Sheppey, the whole of which could be seen with great distinctness. Several well-known people visited the grounds during the week, including the Hon. Mrs. Assheton-Harbord, who is so well known as a balloonist. Mrs. Harbord was taken as a passenger on the Short biplane, and much enjoyed the experience, although it was by no means her first flight on an aeroplane. In the afternoon, Lieut. Gerrard, R.N., tried some passenger-carrying flights, having on board Mr. Oswald Short, and afterwards Mr. Dodson. Lieut. Gerrard exhibits consummate control over his machine, flying with great steadiness, and making sharp right-hand and left- hand turns with the utmost facility. Later on Lieut. Samson took up as passengers Mr. Barrett and Mr. Chapman, two of Messrs. Short Bros, engine mechanics. Saturday was an excellent flying day, and several hours practice were obtained. In addition to the Short biplanes, the Jezzi aero plane and Prof. Huntington's machine were out during the after noon. The Jezzi machine is, as our readers will remember, a biplane similar, at first sight, to a Wright aeroplane, but it is very different in construction. It is fitted with two tractor screws, and M. H. Pequet, who has recently returned from his very successful flying exhibitions at Allahabad, where he con veyed the first aerial post ever officially recognised. M. Pequet is flying for Messrs. Humber, Ltd., at Brook- lands on a Humber biplane, Sommer type, the machine on which he is seen being the biplane exhibited at the last Olympia Aero Show. Early last Saturday he made two flights of a quarter of an hour's duration, and on Sunday morning he was flying for 1 hr. and 10 mlns., during which he first covered several circuits of the Brooklands course, and then made a cross-country flight over Walton and Wey bridge. FLYING GROUNDS. the aviator is seated behind the engine at a point about 3 ft. from the rear edge of the main planes. The whole machine is very close to the ground, the clearance of the lower plane being apparently not more than 2 ft. Mr. Cooper, who was piloting the machine, made several short flights, the machine appearing to lift well. Prof. Huntington was out testing a new kind of warping lever which he has recently fitted to his machine, and he made some short trial flights at an elevation of about 40 ft. Prof. Huntington's machine is of the Dunne type, being one of the very earliest of Capt. Dunne's designs, and was constructed at the Short factory at Shellbeach in the early part of 1909. In appearance it does not bear much likeness to the latest Dunne aero planes, two of which are now under construction here, although the same general principle of natural stability is embodied in its design. Brooklands Aerodrome. Avro School.—This has been a notable week for Messrs. A. V. Roe and Co., as their latest type of Avro-biplane has continued to add further successes to its credit, the more remarkable by reason of its small size and power and its great lifting capacity. It is fitted with an ordinary 3o-h.p. Green which has no auxiliary exhausts, the tractor being direct coupled to the engine and not gear driven, as has been stated elsewhere. The day of the popular cheap aero plane seems to be coming nearer. Mr. Conway Jenkins' success has been quickly followed by Mr. Ronald Kemp and Mr. Raynham. The former on this machine gained his certificate in great style on Thursday, whilst on Saturday Mr. Raynham, at about his fourth time on the same machine, rose to about 1,000 feet while flying for his certificate. During the week Mr. Pixton has been carrying passengers up to 14J stone for several miles outside the track, and as Mr. Pixton is himself 12 stone, this represents a useful load of 264 stone. On Thursday afternoon a strong wind was blowing but Mr. Pixton did not hesitate to take up a 13-stone passenger outside the track. On Friday, a new pupil, Mr. Stanley-Adams, made some straight flights, rising to 30 ft. on the Avro biplane, whilst Raynham did some figures of eight 400 ft. high. Mr. Pixton, on Saturday, had a turn for the Manville prize of ^500 and put in 26 mins. 30 sees. As he understood the Brighton race did not begin until 3.30 he was still going round when the event was started. Consequently he was unable to get off in time to avail himself fully of his handicap and the competitors were out of sight when he made a start. Strangely enough, although having so little power the Avro biplane was classed next to scratch, namely 45 m.p.h., whilst Lieut. Snowden - Smith's racing Farman was 40 m.p.h. and Mr. Gilmour's Bristol 35 m.p.h. On Sunday Lieut. Watkins and Lieut. Park were carrying numerous passengers on Messrs. A. V. Roe and Co.'s Farman biplane. Monday was very windy, and at 6 p.m. Brooklands " natives " were surprised to see Pixton arrive back from his Brighton tour, having steered his course from Haywards Heath to Brooklands Track in 43 minutes. Missing his way, he had some miles of trees to pass over. The wind was over 20 m.p.h. and he reported having rather a rough time when passing over Dorking. Filey School (Blackburn Aeroplane Co.) ON Sunday the school was early astir, and at 5.30 a.m. Mr. Hucks had the Blackburn " Mercury," fitted with an Isaacson engine, brought out of its hangar. By 6 o'clock all was ready, and in spite of the prevailing winds, he took the air, remaining up some time until the wind began to get rather treacherous, coming from over the cliffs in short gusts. As under such conditions the risks were rather too great Mr. Hucks decided to land. At 7 o'clock the wind having steadied again somewhat, Mr. Hucks decided to take out the same machine. On this he very successfully made eight flights, several times rising to a height of nearly 200 ft., and covering in all a distance of about 24 miles. On every occasion the machine rose with perfect grace, and flying steadily and swiftly without a single hitch. In all these flights the 50-6o-h.p. Isaacson engine answered splendidly. The delightful weather attracted thousands of people from Scarborough and other seaside resorts around. No news has come to hand at time of writing, but it was expected that Mr. Weiss's Bleriot would be in the air this week. The school was again early astir on Tuesday. At 6 o'clock in the morning Mr. Hucks, finding the weather very favourable for flight, took out one of the " Mercury" machines. Starting from the aero drome he flew several times between Filey Bridge and Speeton Cliffs, then around Hunmanby and back to the aerodrome, putting up a flight of 17 miles before alighting. While in the air he made many figures of eight, and ended up with a fine volplane.
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