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Aviation History
1911
1911 - 0443.PDF
MAY 20, 1911. a wire had broken in the region of the engine, and after this was replaced Hubert flew the machine back to the aerodrome in com pany with Mr. Grahame-White. Friday, the 12th, was the date fixed for the Flying Demonstration under the control of the Parliamentary Aerial Defence Committee. The Clerk of the Weather was exceptionally kind, as we were favoured with one of those superbly calm days that are so few and far between. A full account of the flying will be found elsewhere in this issue. Rain prevailed during Saturday morning, and it was not until the afternoon that the machines could be brought out. Grahame-White made several trips with passengers on the military Farman, among whom was Lord Curzon. Greswell flew his Gnome- Bleriot a good deal throughout the afternoon, ascending to quite 2,000 ft. on one occasion, and planing to earth. Travers, on the school Farman, practised the right hand turn several times during a good flight of 20 mins. duration, and descended in order to imme diately set out for his test flights. These were successfully accom plished, Mr. Harold Perrin and Mr. Harry Delacombe acting as official observers. It was only very early on Sunday morning that flying could be undertaken, as during the rest of the day the rain fell in torrents. Mrs. Martin had a lesson, and afterwards made several straight flights, at an average height of 30 ft., across the whole length of the ground. This, for a lady pupil, is decidedly promising. At 1 o'clock on Monday afternoon Mr. Martin mounted the newly-erected Farman, and after a preliminary circuit or two flew away in the direction of Hendon village. Just before reaching Paling he circled and returned to the aerodrome. Meanwhile Mrs. Martin had more practice at straight flights. A very funny incident occurred during the afternoon. Raglus had done a good deal of rolling on the school Anzani-Bleiiot and had clambered out in order to straighten the machine up for a flight back to the hangars, when he found that he had not sufficiently retarded the ignition of his motor. In vain he tried to check its progress, but the machine dragged him on to his knees and he was forced to release his hold. For quite ten minutes the machine -dashed about the ground at about 25 miles an hour, evading all attempts at recapture. Eventually Mr. Grahame-White succeeded in grabbing a wing-tip, and it was not until the machine had described several circles with that gentleman as the pivot that it was completely overpowered and •escorted back to the hangar. Mr. Grahame-White made a very fine flight during the evening with two passengers on his military Farman. Attaining an altitude of quite 800 ft. he flew towards Cricklewood, and returned to the aerodrome after circling the Welsh Harp waters. I/TIGHT] At about 7.15 p.m., after a preliminary practice flight, Capt. Higgins successfully performed the test flights for his pilot's certificate. Tuesday saw Mrs. Martin out early on the school Farman, making circuits of the ground in excellent style. Before retiring she had a flight of six circuits to her credit. Mr. Martin gave instruct ion to Messrs. Greig and Davies, taking each for lengthy flights. Mr. Grahame-White flew the " Baby " biplane for the purpose of testing a new propeller. A high flight by Clement Greswell on the Gnome-Bler'iot finished the day's operations, the wind having risen too much to allow pupils to go out. Valkyrie School.—Great disappointment was experienced at the Valkyrie School on Friday, I2lh inst., owing to the controllers of the aerodrome not permitting even one of the five Valkyrie machines to take part in the military tests. On Saturday, May 13th, school work started at 5 a.m., and the following pupils each had lessons :—Miss Meeze, Messrs. Perry, Chambers, Uenson, llawker, Clutterbuck, and Turner. Messrs. Turner, Perry, and Hawker are making rapid progress and executed very steady flights at a moderate height. In the afternoon, about 2,000 people being present, the Valkyrie designer made numerous flights, each of from half an-hour to an hour in duration, during which all the evolutions known to airmen were made with precision and steadiness. Moreover, certain of these evolutions were of quite a startling character, notably quickly ascending in a corkscrew spiral, the diameter of which was only 100 to 120 yards, and descending in the same way with engine slopped. The pilot then gave an impressive demonstration of the inherent stability of the Valkyrie. For over a mile, steering a circular course, he flew the machine steadily with both hands off the controls and held high above his head. At the expiration of this demonstration Lieut. Wells, of the Indian Army, joined the Valkyrie School, while Messrs. K. 11. Klein and A. Wendell Jackson and Miss A. A. Morten were given passenger flights. The morning of Monday last was taken up with numerous passenger flights, among those ascending being Messrs. Perry, Chambers, Sadlet, Turner, Miss Meeze, and Lieuts. W. D. and N. E. Barber. The school machine was very busy, being kept in the air almost continuously by different pupils, among whom Messrs. Perry, Hawker, Benson and Miss Meeze are coming on remarkably quickly. Mr. Benson was circling the aerodrome in fine style and should secure his certificate speedily. In the evening more passenger flights were given, several passengers being taken to a height of 300 ft. There was a considerable crowd present, including several members of the Royal Aero Club, and at the request of Prince Bolotoff a demonstration was given of the new TWO OF THE FLYERS ON BRISTOL BIPLANES AT SALISBURY PLAIN.—On the left Mr. R. W. Philpott, and on the right Mr. E. Hotchkiss, who took his brevet on Tuesday, he being the ninth Bristol pupil to secure his certificate during the last three weeks. 445
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