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Aviation History
1911
1911 - 0478.PDF
I/OGHT) arriving within five minutes of each other just after 7 o'clock. After a short rest, both " Beaumont " and Garros set out to continue to Avignon. A stop was made at Lyon where, during the morning, the large crowd which had gathered to welcome the aviators had been entertained with some fine flying by Legagneux, Hanriot and Berlot. At a quarter past three a telephone message was received lo the effect that a monoplane had been seen making its way in the direction of Lyon, and at 3h. 28m. 43s. " Beaumont" glided down easily and gracefully, and was given an enthusiastic reception, as also was Garros, who arrived shortly afterwards at 4I1. 2m. 25s. " Beaumont "started off again at 4 hrs. 14 mins., while Garros, after filling up the petrol and oil tanks, &c, was away at 4 hrs. 46 mins. Great disappointment was expressed at Lyon at the non-appearance of the local aviator, Kimmerling, who was delayed at Troyes. At ten minutes to six " Beaumont" was timed passing Monteliar, and at 6.49 he landed at Avignon, while Garros arrived there at twenty minutes to eight. Both aviators then decided that they had got far enough on their journey for one day, and so determined to stay the night. Of the officers, Lieuts. Clavenad and Chevreau succeeded in reaching Troyes. Lieut. Lucca, after making a stop at Sens, got as far as Tonnere, while Lieut. Delage came down at Billeneuve- 1'Archeveque. The Second Day. When the aviators awoke next morning they found the conditions very unfavourable for flying, the sky being overcast and a fine rain steadily drizzling, making things very uncomfortable generally. As there was no sign of any likelihood of improvement at Avignon, " Beaumont " determined not to wait, and got on his way at four minutes to four in the morning, but Garros did not leave Avignon until 5.36 a.m., nearly two hours after his rival had started. Then the weather affected the running of his engine so much that he was forced to make a stop at Mallemort, at the mouth of the Rhone. In descending he smashed both the planes of his machine, but, deter mined not to throw up until every chance had gone, he at once motored back to Avignon and purchased another machine from Kuhling. "Beaumont" was also temporarily beaten by the elements, and made a stop of six hours at Besse-sur-Issole. He re-started from there at ten minutes to four in the afternoon, and managed to reach Frejus, where he landed at 4.35. About two hours afterwards he was away again, and landed at the Nice California Aerodrome at 7I1. 19m. 51s. He was accorded a great reception, and carried in triumph to the hotel. Garros having obtained his new machine set out afresh from Avignon, making a splendid flight to Frejus, where he arrived soon after "Beaumont" had departed for Nice. After only about a quarter of an hour's halt there he was away again in pursuit, landing at Nice at ?h. 57m. 50s. With regard to the other competitors, Kimmerling, with an early start from Troyes at half-past three, reached his native town of Lyon at a quarter-past eight. Stopping for just a little under an hour, he then continued on to Avignon, which was reached a few minutes after noon, a quarter of an hour's stop having been made on the way at Valence-sur-Rhone. He rested for about an hour, and then started for Nice. After making a plucky fight against wind and rain he decided to come down at Brignoles (Var), 65 kiloms. short of Nice. Frey, who had stopped over night at Dijon, started at quarter-past four, and arrived at Lyon about a quarter to eight. He resumed operations al>out an hour later, and then, losing his way, came down at Valence. While making inquiries he saw Kimmer ling, who had just started again, pass overhead. At once getting into his machine he set off in his track, gradually overhauling him and reaching Avignon about ten minute? in front of him. Frey then decided to stop for the day. VVeymann also started from Troyes, but only got as far as Celles-sur-Ourse, when in coming down he broke his machine so badly as to put him out of the competition. Vidart, who also left Troyes at half-past five, arrived at Dijon at half-past seven, and was off again from there soon after nine. Violent squalls of wind brought him down at Chalons-sur-Saone, but when they moderated he made a fresh start for Lyon. This, however, was not until fairly late in the afternoon, and he appears not to have recognised Lyon, as he was seen making good speed and totally ignor ing the aerodrome. As no signs developed of his making any attempt to land, Legagneux and Hanriot set off on their monoplanes and managed to signal the aviator and bring him back to Lyon, where he landed at 6h. 26m. Molla, who had reached Dijon overnight, got away from there at 9 minutes past 5, reaching Arbigny, where he was forced down by solid rain. As soon as this gave over he made a fresh start, but only to get as far as Villeurbanne, where he landed on the racecourse. Unfortunately, he came down rather awkwardly and smashed up one wing of his machine. Manis- sero's progress was from Ballancourt to Dijon, he making a long stop at Coulmiers-le-Sec on the way, while Bathiat, who went on from La Trombe in the morning, got as far as Romilly-sur-Seine, where owing to motor troubles he determined to stop for the day. Of the other 480 JUNE 3, 1911. starters from Buc on Sunday Gaget decided to abandon after reach- ng Laumes, Bielovucic reached no further than Juvisy, and Level stopped at Troyes. There was, however a new^ com petitor who, flying over from Juvisy in the morning, had been officially star ed f">m Buc- This waS Landr°n r°n T ° A8*0* machines, on which he managed to get as far as Savigny-sur-Orge. The Third Day. At three o'clock in the morning of Tuesday ast, Beaumont nreoared to continue the race from Nice, but his engine refused w work in anything like proper form. The mechanics laboured at it until eight o'clock, and then, although " Beaumont was able to rise he decided that it was cot wise to proceed, and turned back in order that a new motor might be fitted. Garros, more fortunate, started a few minutes before five, and passing over Oneglia and Albenga, arrived at Genoa at 7.20. He reported that the wind had been very troublesome, while as on the previous day the rain had not added to the comfort of the journey. He had hoped that a new machine on which he wished to continue the journey would arrive by rail, but as this appeared to have been delayed somewhere, at ten minutes to ten he started off on the machine which Leblanc had purchased for him at Avignon. Following the coast line he passed Spezia, and reached Pisa, where he landed at a quarter to twelve. Frey started from Avignon at five o'clock, and arrived at Nice at 8 hrs. 11 mins. and did not get away again until 2h. 36m. 34s. Then he went right through to Genoa, arriving there at 5I1. 39m. Vidart left Lyons in the afternoon, and reached Avignon at half-past four. Molla flew over to Lyon in the morning, and at 5.30 started for Avignon. He, how ever, only got as far as Vienne, where in landing he again damaged his machine, and returned to Lyon by motor car. Manissero made another start from Dijon, but only to get as far as Coligny. Bathiat was away from Romilly at 7.20, and after a descent at Trolois reached Baigneux-les-Juifs, while Kimmerling, in trying to start at Brignoles, capsized his machine, and so was detained for the day. Of the officers who took part, Lieut. Chevreau started from Lusigny, and got as far as Dijon, landing at Valsouzon on the way, and Lieut. Lucca went on from Dijon to Lyon. Fourth Day. On Wednesday " Beaumont" was the first to arrive at Rome. Garros made a good flight from Pisa, but between Cecina and Castagento his machine fell, and was considerably damaged, but the aviator escaped. Frey progressed as far as San Rossore, near Pisa. ® ® ® ® LAST WEEK'S ACCIDENT AT HENDON. EVERYONE will sympathise most sincerely both with the parents and friends of the enterprising young student who lost his life at Hendon on the evening of Thursday of last week, and also with Mr. Barber, of the Valkyrie flying school, at which he was receiving lessons in the art of aeroplane manipulation. Mr. Bernard G. Benson, of 17, Netherhall Gardens, Hampstead, was only 20 years of age ; but for more than two years he had devoted himself heart and soul to the subject of aviation, building a number of models during that time, and following up his schooling at Eastbourne and at Radley by joining the Central Technical Engineering Department of the London University, instead of passing along to Oxford, as had been intended. For some five or six months he had been taking lessons at Hendon when weather and his other studies permitted ; while what makes his sudden death even more sad perhaps than it otherwise would have been was that he took little or no interest in the sensational aspect of flying, and would if necessary have been able to devote an ample fortune to the encouragement of the move ment in this his native country. Cool, plucky, sensible and serious, he seemed, in fact, destined later on to become a power in the aviation world in England. Seemingly, on the evening in question, he was doing considerably better than on previous occasions, making one wide circle after another, at first low down, but gradually ascending. According to all accounts he must have attained a height of some 200 ft., and then he appeared to endeavour to make a vol plant with the power CUu-,° • Jhe descent is sa'd to have been shaky from the start, while within some 40 ft. of the ground the machine became com pletely out of hand and fell headlong. At the subsequent inquest on Monday last, a verdict of "death from misadventure" was returned, while it was intimated on behalf of the parents that they were quite satisfied no blame of any kind could be attached to Mr. Barber, 11ns followed upon evidence which went to show that the height attained was considerably greater than that deemed ideal for all the pupUs and that lack of experience alone led to the actual catastrophe of the moment. That the machine was also in perfect w L WaS/r°Veu hIthe fact that immediately before the accident it had been flown by both Mr. Barber and Mr. Turner.
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