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Aviation History
1911
1911 - 0436.PDF
JOSH?] made no difference to him. One after another were taken up, including Mr. McKenna and Lord Denman. At intervals other excellent flights were made by Mr. Compton Paterson, Mr. Greswell, and Mr. Pixton on the Avro. The item of assembling a Bleriot monoplane and dismantling it afterwards proved particularly interesting to a number of members of the Army Council. It gave the lie direct to the ridiculous state ments that half a day or more is required to put machines together. The Bleriot, which was packed away on its transport wagon, was brought into the aerodrome, and at the word to assemble, within nine minutes the machine was ready for flight. The reverse operation was then started and by 11 mins. 5 sees, the whole mono plane was packed securely on its transport wagon and ready for following any regiment that might require to be moving away. Towards the evening reconnoitring tests were carried out. These proved of very convincing value. Mr. Hubert took up with him as observer Captain Sykes, a map of the surrounding country being placed conveniently on the machine. Mr. Compton Paterson carried Major Evelyn Wood, D.S.O. Both of these scouts rose rapidly into- the calm air and were soon lost to sight. It had been so arranged that previous to the start of the scouts a battalion of infantry, representing the enemy's troops, as also two squadrons of cavalry and a battery of artillery had disposed themselves at various points of cover within a specified area, entirely unknown to the pilots or their observers, the ground selected being between the aerodrome and St. Albans, about thirteen miles away. This recon noitring test was carried out under the supervision of Gen. Murray, of the War Office, and in both cases the observations made by the otricers and the pilots were of a most convincing and successful MAY 20, 1911. character. After rising well over 3,000 ft., they passed away towards the country where the enemy had been reported as lying, and without any difficulty they were able to locate the infantry and duly recorded it upon their maps, whilst the enemy s artillery were also observed and reported. At the height at which these observa tions were carried out there was no reasonable possibility ol any marksman being able, with present gunnery, to interfere effectively with their movements. . After this, flights still continued, passengers were carried, and presently Mr. Cody on his big biplane, after an exhibition flight round the aerodrome, took his departure for Aldershot, while those who remained, still hopeful of receiving their air baptism at the last moment, found night creeping on too rapidly to carry much hope of their wishes being consummated. And so finished one of the most impressive demonstrations that could possibly have been devised for the bringing home, not only to officials of the Government, but to the entire British public, the marvellous strides which,, in the short period of about three years, have been made in. aviation. . . One little fly in the ointment was the want of permission given for Mr. Barber to demonstrate the qualities of his British-built Valkyrie machines. Probably no man in England has more con sistently carried out practical experiments for the past two or three years than Mr. Barber of the Aeronautical Syndicate, and we can. only assume that his name and machines not being included as a set item in the programme was due to some misunderstanding. His Valkyrie machines are not only British-built but have the great merit of being very original in design and a considerable departure from ordinary accepted practice in many details of construction. THE NAVAL AIRSHIP STILL IN DOCK. FURTHER delay in the launch of the Naval dirigible was occasioned last week by one of the crew falling on to and damaging some of the framework. The man, able-seaman Palmer, was slightly injured about the head, and was taken to Barrow Hospital. The damage to the airship was quickly repaired, but up to- Wednesday evening the airship remained in the shed. THE NEW NAVAL AlKSHIP CONSTRUCTED BY MESSRS VICKERS. LTD., AT BARROW.-Preparations- for launching. Capt. Sueter drilling seamen and marines selected to man the dirigible. The marines are feeing Instructed in towing from the shore and steadying the airship when brought out. Note the sail-cloth "doar" is «en drawn, and the airship is visible in its shed. 438
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