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Aviation History
1911
1911 - 0433.PDF
MAY 20, 1911. A.^x. [fum i^HBI "Flight" Copyright. A swoop down across the enclosures and machines from over the hangars bv Grahame-White at the Hendon Demonstration last week during one of his exhibition flights- From this it will be seen how close down it Is possible with perfect safety to steer. to leave any doubt as to the enjoyment which he had experienced. Although a set programme was issued, it was not strictly adhered lo in its order of carrying out, but event followed event without break, and by 3.40 Hamel had started away on his Bleriot mono plane for the despatch-carrying and reliability test across country to Aldershot. Rising rapidly, he was fully l,ooo feet up by the time he had circled the aerodrome, and passed away direct over the hangars for his destination. Carrying with him, besides an official War Office document, a special batch of an " aeroplane edition" of the Pall Mall Gazette, in which had been printed the doings up to that time at Hendon, he made a bee-line without the smallest devia tion across country to Farnborough, arriving there at 4.20p.m. .having therefore occupied only a matter of 40 mins. for his 35 miles' trip. So successful was his flight that he was quite unexpected at such an early period of the afternoon at Farnborough, and he consequently was delayed there fully three-quarters of an hour before he was able to have his "despatches" received, vouched for, and a fresh batch of Pall Mall Gazette "aeroplane editions," by way of return des patches, strapped behind him on his machine. In similar manner to that on those he had brought, Hamel's arrival at Aldershot was duly recorded in this special edition, he being his own carrier of the news. The exact time of returning from Farnborough for Hendon was 5.5 p.m. By a few minutes past 5.30 a shout passed along the occu pants of the enclosures that Hamel was sighted on his return from Aldershot. He steered across the hangars at a height approaching some 3,000 feet, and with a splendid spiral vol plant1, came down within a hundred yards of the front of the enclosures, landing at 5.35, his return journey having thus occupied some ten minute*, less than the outward trip. His arrival was the signal for a burst of applause, and he was personally congratulated by the Duke of Connaught upon his achievement, the copies of the Pall- Mall Gazttte which he had brought being presented by Mr. Graham. White to the Duke, Mr. Asquith, Mr. Balfour, and a number of other distinguished visitors who were in the immediate vicinity. Incidentally Hamel beat the telegraph, as a wire which was despatched at the same moment as Mr. Hamel's departure arrived some 15 minutes or more after him at Aldershot, the telegram from Aldershot arriving at Hendon 30 minutes after Hamel. During the carrying out of this very convincing test, things were not idle at the aerodrome. Mr. Armstrong Drexel, who within 30 seconds of the start of Hamel also rose on another Bleriot for the purpose of accompaning Hamel to Aldershot, was speedily brought to earth again with a nasty crash, owing to the carelessness of a mechanic, who had crossed the wires manipulating the elevating plane. Truly this was bad luck, and the greatest sympathy was expressed with Mr. Drexel under the circumstancvs, although fortunately he himself escaped with nothing worse than a shaking. Just prior to the start of Hamel for Aldershot Mr. S. F. Cody was seen approaching at a height of about 1,000 ft. on his journey across from Brooklands. At that height this great biplane " Flight" Copyright. THE GOVERNMENT AND THE OPPOSITION AT THE HENDOM DEMONSTRATION.—Mr. Lloyd George, Mr. and Mrs. Winston Churchill, Mr. A. J. Balfour and his brother watching the flights. 435 C
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