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Aviation History
1911
1911 - 0432.PDF
1/UG"T1 Sir Rulus Isaacs and Mr. Lloyd George taking note of one of Grahame-White's specially daring feats. results could unquestionably be obtained from heights of such range as to be well out of reasonable danger from below, and once the need is established, mechanical instruments of the greatest precision for directing the discharge of bombs and missiles of different characters would within a very short period be evolved, which would undoubtedly be equal to any requirements of the military flyers. That good to the industry must result from this national gathering is practically a foregone conclusion, as the Parliamentary Aerial Defence Committee—with Mr. Arthur Lee, M.P., at its head, and Mr. Arthur Du Cros, M. P., as its indefatigable hon. secretary—is hammering it home in the proper quarters. The practical work done MAY 20, 1911. must bring about important action amongst those who were eye witnesses of the remarkable experiments organised for their edification. •''."_'"-.",'. ' It can hardly be otherwise than that every visitor that day is for the future a friend of aviation, and the importance of that friendship, can best be realised from the fact that there were present at this demonstration, organised by the Parliamentary Aerial Defence Committee, besides some 300 Members of Parliament and some hundreds of Army and Navy officers, the Duke and Duchess of Connaught, Prince Arthur of Connaught, members of the Cabinet and Opposition, including Mr. Asquith, Mr. Balfour, Mr. Lloyd George, Mr. McKenna, the First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. Winston Churchill, Sir Rufus Isaacs, Sir Herbert Samuel, the Post master General, Lord Lansdowne, Colonel Seely—in fact practically every Minister who was not in duty attendance upon King George during his official visit to the Crystal Palace. Other notable attendances were Lord Northcliffe, Lord Charles Beresford, Lord Roberts, the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Rothschild, Lord Hsherr Sir Ernest Shackleton, Sir Philip Watts, Lord Denman, Mr. Gerald Balfour and Mr. Burdett-Coutts. Proceedings opened well in advance of the official programme time, as Lord Haldane was already on the ground by half-past two. For his edification a number of preliminary tests were forthwith indulged in. Mr. Grahame-White brought out his Henry Farman biplane and opened the ball by dropping " bombs " on to a ground target representing the deck of a battleship, coming each time within about 2 feet of the bullseye. Equal success attended him with' a 100 lb. bag of sand. After travelling round the aerodrome at a good speed with this hanging below, and rising to a reasonable height, at the proper moment by a special catch this bag was- released for its mark, and struck home with a dull thud which could be heard all round the aerodrome. What may appear to many to be remarkable in this, besides the hitting of the mark, was that the release of the 100 lb. weight failed to alter the course of the biplane in the least. And then with his elevator down, Grahame-White swooped towards the ground, to rise again with a splendid upward curve for a circuit of the aerodrome before coming gracefully, within a few feet of the enclosure, to earth. Soon after three the word went round that Mr. A. J. Balfour was to take a trip with Mr. Grahame-White, and within a few minutes it was a fact accomplished. Starting away at a quarter-past three, hatless, with his silver hair gleaming in the brilliant sun, this very distinguished passenger was sped round the aerodrome for a couple of circuits. Then came a run along the ground with the wheels just grazing the grass, to rise again before alighting. Naturally, there was somewhat of a rush to ascertain Mr. Balfour's views upon his- experience, but those who were near required no words from the Leader of the Opposition. His smile and his face were too expressive- /fVi//#H '/<?// The Rt. Hon. A. J. Balfour gives a vivid description of his flight with Grahame - White to Lord Haldane, which Grahame-White (on the left) enjoys. 434 " Flight" Copyright. Lord Roberts and Lord Charles Beresford comparing: points upon the great demonstration.
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