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Aviation History
1911
1911 - 0421.PDF
MAY 13, 1911. It is curious to note how during these flights the seagulls, after circling round the machine, apparently prompted by curiosity to investigate the nature of their mammoth competitor in flight, after wards give the machine a wide berth, never attempting to again approach it. London Aerodrome, Collindale Avenue, Hendon. Ble'riot School.—Wednesday last week opened brightly, and from 6 to 8 o'clock Messrs. Champion, Henderson, Abercromby, Parr and Seamon indulged in a little practice. Thursday was a busy day at the school, the pupils being able to put in a good amount of work, Messrs. Champion, Henderson and Salmet making circles while Mr. Abercromby, who is showing very good form in his straight flights, Mr. Dyott, who is coming along very nicely—and by the bye is a Britisher not American as originally Stated—and Messrs. Parr, Seamon and Gordon Jones had some very good practice. Friday saw most of the pupils out early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Mr. Weir, an early pupil who qualified last November, made several good flights on one of the school machines, reaching a height of 300 feet, and also some pretty right-hand turns. All the pupils were able on Saturday to improve on their previous performances, Mr. Seamon leaving the ground for the first time, this being his fourth time on the machine. Mr. Weir also made several good flights, and on Monday morning Messrs. Abercromby, Seamon and Dyott made a few straight flights before the wind got up. Several new monoplanes of the latest type arrived at the Bleriot School during the week for use in the demonstrations before the War Office delegates and the Members of Parliament yesterday (Friday). Grahame-White School.—At an early hour on Wednesday, May 3rd, operations commenced at the school, Mrs. Martin, wiih her husband in the passenger seat of the school Gnome-Farman, doing a great deal of rolling and hopping. Travers was flying circuits really well on the newly-erected Farman meanwhile, and when he landed after a quarter of an hour's jaunt, Gresw«.'.U busied himself giving instruction to Mr. Davis nnd Capt. Higgins. The next day, Thursday, was a very full one at the school. It was quite a pity that the flying demonstration before the Parlia mentary Aerial Defence Committee had been postponed to Friday of this week, as it was an ideal day in every way, and flying was in prtgress incessantly from dawn till dusk. Mr. and Mrs. Martin we.e out first, as on the previous clay, making straight flights. At a quarter to six Greswell turned up, and began the morning's tuition by taking up Capt. Higgins and then Davis as passengers. Travers, who has made such rapid progress, was flying circuits very steadily at a height of 200 ft. Capt. Higgins then took the pilot's seat and, with J. V. Martin as passenger-instructor, set off for rolling and straight flying practice. After a good long spell at this practice Mr. Davis was given instruction in a similar way. This method of tuition is really excellent, as pupils can in almost every case get through their course without doing any damage to the machine. \pMn Throughout the afternoon Grahame-White was flying continuously on the "Baby" biplane and the new Farman. On one occasion he took Mr. J. V. Martin as passenger for several circuits of the aerodrome on the "Baby" to demonstrate its good passenger- carrying qualities. Compton Paterson was also flying the " Baby," often taking it up to 1,500 ft., and making steep volplanJsto earth. liidley-Prentice, one of the late pupils at the Grahame-White school, made a very creditable flight during the afternoon, rising to quite 700 ft., and pinning to eanh in approved style. On his Gnome-Bleriol Greswell climbed to an altitude of 2,000 ft., and flew for half an hour over the country in the neighbourhood of Hendon. Hubert put in a great deal of flying on the Farmaii aero plane that Mr. Grahame-White used on his trip to Birmingham. He flew with and without passengers at an average height of 750 ft. A feature of the day's flying was the bomb dropping by Grahame- White and Paterson. The target was diamond shaped, being 12 ft. at its widest diameter and 8 ft. at its smallest, placed in the centre of a circle of 45 ft. radius. Flying the *' Baby" biplane at 200 ft. Grahame-White succeeded in getting five bull's-eyes in five tries, while Paterson, who flew at twice that altitude, scored one bull's-eye, the other four bombs dropping within the large circle. Experiments in weight dropping were also made by Grahame-White. A 60 lb. sack of sand was suspended from beneath the pilot's seat and dropped by means of a hand-operated releasing gear. Although a 60 lb. sack of sand is a considerable weight to lose suddenly, Mr. Grahame-White found that the effect on the aeroplane was practically negligible. Maintaining the good progress that he had shown since starting his tuition, Travers proceeded to fly figures of eight, these being accomplished with a good measure of success. Capt. Higgins and Mr. Davis were taken up alternately by Greswell on the school Farman for flights of 25 mins. duration, and on descent they were allowed to make straight flights. Guslave Kaglus was also out rolling on the school Bleriot. After a brief interval for breakfast operations were resumed. Both Higgins and Davis were given further experience as passengers by being taken up for extended flights by Hubert, who afterwards flew with a Air. Hubert Latham. Col. Mackie was another to have a passenger flight, being piloted by Mr. Grahame-White for several laps. The pupils were out again early on the following morning, Travers, Davis, and Higgins all doing circuits. At 10.15 Greswell mounted the Gnome-Bl^riot, and climbing to 1,200 ft., went off in the direction of Brooklands. Although it was quite clear when he started, he encountered mist over the River Thames and had to descend to 300 ft., and even at that altitude it was only possible to see a short distance in advance. After flying about for a consider able time in the hope of picking up his route, he descended on a large piece of ground near the Croydon Gas Works. While waiting for assistance, the wind sprang up and for a time he was weatherbound. PROGRESS AT HENDON.—The first trials of the new Type B *' Valkvrie" cross country racing machine fitted with Gnome engine. This machine was tried for the first time on Saturday, May 6th, and has exceeded all expectations of its designer. The speed is estimated to be at least 60-70 miles an hour. The machine has a remarkable rising capacity, which leads one to believe that it would be very easy to sacrifice a little of that quality In order to make the machine even still speedier. During the second trial of the machine it made six rounds of the Hendon Aerodrome, during which time, in order to keep the machine from rising above 200 ft. high, the pilot had to make over twenty vol plane descents. This machine carries a passenger easily, and is specially designed for fast crosscountry work and military service. 423
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