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Aviation History
1911
1911 - 0506.PDF
•/DOHT] FROM THE BRITISH Royal Aero Club Flying Ground, Eastchurch. ALTHOUGH Sheerness cannot really be called the " Home of the Aeroplane," as some railway posters have it, yet those who visited that thriving community during the holidays must have been convinced that there was an aeroplane nest not far away, since these hornet-like creatures were constantly to be seen flying in the near viciniiy of the town. Last week the weather was exceptionally good for flying, and BOM i f the aviators at Eastchurch were out every day. On Thttrtday, Lieut. Samson made an early morning flight to Teynham (Kent). Fndmr was a memorable day, the flying grounds being honoured by a visit fur the secmd time of Their Royal Highnesses Prince and FriaceM Look of Hut ten berg, and earlier in the day by the first of aviators, Mr. Wilbur Wright, who motored down from London with Mr. Griffith Brewer. The I'rince and i'rincess were conducted over the grounds by Lieut. Samson, and witnessed several fine flights during their stay. Ai the moment of their arrival Naval Lieut. Gerrard started up on the Short No. 34, and was followed almost immediately by Lieut. Longmore, also flying a Short biplane. For some time the aviators continued to carry out various evolutions in the air, at one time passing at a height of some 200 ft. almost over the heads of the Keyal party, who were thus able to witness perhaps the most im|>n>sive view of an aeroplane, as seen from underneath during flight. Their Highnesses evinced the greatest interest in the flying, and when the two aviators finally landed the Prince expressed a wish to have a closer view of an aeroplane starting. This evolution was entrusted to Lieut. Gregory, who got into the air nicely after a run of some 20 yards, and continued a gradual ascent up to 500 ft. As the Royal party were about to leave the grounds their attention was attracted by the sound of another aeroplane starting up, the engine of which gave off quite a different " music" to the Gnome- driven Short biplanes. It proved to be Mr. Alec Ogilvie, who was flying his N.E.C.-engined Wright biplane. Saturday was an exceptionally hot day, and not really a good one for flying, as the heat of the sun appeared to cause considerable upward trends of the air. Mr. Ogilvie was out first, flying a new Wright machine, which is of a size between the original Wright and the "Baby" Wright of 1910. It was evident that the aviator was feeling the upward currents of air, but he had no difficulty in counteracting their effect by warping, and continued his flight for some 20 mins. or so. Later in the day Mr. Jezzi was out on the Jezzi biplane, making several flights and showing good progress. Prut Huntington was also flying at the same time, making straight flights across the grounds. On this day, too, the new Dunne mono plane was given its first trial. It is the same machine which was exhibited at the last Aero Show, being then in a partly unfinished condition. It is driven by a 50-h. p. Green engine, and showed con siderable speed over the ground, it being apparently steered in a straight course quite easily. As usual with first trials, adjustments were found necessary, and the monoplane was returned to its shed. On Whit-Monday Lieuts. Samson, Longmore, Gregory, and Gerrard were out early, the former flying to Sittingbourne and back before 7 a.m. Towards 10 o'clock a number of people began to congregate at the entrance to the aerodrome, many of them having walked many miles on the chance of witnessing some flying. They were well rewarded, for seven machines were constantly flying during the day. At 6 p.m. a number of distinguished visitors arrived from Sheerness, including Rear-Admiral Grant, who was taken up by Lieut. Gerrard for a short flight on the Short No. 34. Admiral Grant thus achieved the distinction of being the first British Admiral to ascend in an aeroplane. He thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and on landing, expressed his surprise at the sense of security experienced whilst flying, and at the ease and sureness with which the aviator had piloted him through the air. The crowning joy of the day was the arrival Mr. G. B. Cockburn, who took the opportunity offered by the holidays to pay a visit to see how his former pupils were progressing. He was unable to resist the offer of Lieut. Gerrard to ascend as his passenger, and went up for a flight which lasted fifteen minutes. Amongst other passenger flights was one by Lieut. Gregory, carrying Lieut. Crichton, of H.M.S. " Actaeon," as passenger. During this flight, which lasted upwards of thirty minutes, H.M.S. " Actoeon " and " Antrim " were both circled before the aviator headed for home, which he reached by way of the Medway and tlueenborough, finishing up with a good vol plane. Brooklands Aerodrome. ON Tuesday of last week the wind dropped at 6 p.m., when Lieut. Snowden-Smhh was out, as also Mr. Fisher and Mr. Spencer. JUNE 10, 1911. FLYING GROUNDS. Mr. Gordon-England took Mrs. Handasyde for a passenger trip ending with a magnificent spiral vol plant. Afterwards Mr. England was caught in a nasty squall but managed to bring the machine down safely. M. Versfpuy was also piloting the Bristol, and Mr. Gordon Bell made a flight of a quarter of an hour on the Hanriot. Pupils were out in the early morning of Wednesday and Mr. Manisty was making straight flights on the Hanriot. Mr. Jack Humphreys had a nasty spill with the Hanriot, mainly through over confidence. The wind getting up later put a stop to all further flying for the day. On the following day the only machine flying was the Bristol biplane, piloted by Mr. Gordon-England, who carried several passengers. On Friday Mr. England and M. Versepuv were in the air, as also was Lieut. Snowden-Smith, but owing to the wind there was otherwise not much flying. The Billings biplane was at work early on Saturday, both Mr. Billings and Mr. Percival piloting. Mr. Percival is showing marked improvement now, making half-turns at a good height. During the afternoon Lieut. Watkins brought out the Howard Wright, but the engine was still pulling badly. Mr. Gordon-England executed two really magnificent spiral vol planes, and Lieut. Snowdon-Smith was making sharp turns on his British-built Farman. The star per formance of the day was Mr. Gilmour's arrival. Mr. Gilmour had started from Salisbury in the morning, but owing to the mists had to- come down at Basingstoke. Stopping there during the day, he made a start for Brooklands during the evening, arriving over the aero drome at a height of about 2,000 ft. Before coming to ground he executed some marvellous turns, both left and right-hand, banking to nearly 400. In the early morning of Sunday Mr. Pixton, who has now joined the Bristol Co., was up for his first trip on the biplane, seemingly quite at home although on a strange machine. During the afternoon, Mr. Blondeau, Mr. Gordon-England, and Mr. Pixton put in some good work, while Mr. Gilmour was kept busy passenger-carrying. Mr. Fisher was trying the Martin-IIandasyde. The J. A.P. engine has now been refitted to this machine, but owing to the extensive oil shields the head resistance was found to be too great. Whit-Monday was one of the most successful flying days Brook lands has yet had. Work started at 5 a.m. Mr. Fisher was again, out on his Martin-Handasyde ; the oil shields had been removed, showing distinct improvement to the flying of the machine, but owing to a solid stream of oil the pilot is quite unable to see in what direction he is going. Mr. Cody arrived from Laffan's Plain at 5.45 a.m., and half an hour later a machine was noticed making straight for the aerodrome at an altitude of at least 2,000 ft. This turned out to be Mr. Barber on the new racing Valkyrie. He had covered the 20 miles from Hendon in 20 mins., which speaks well for the speed of the machine. He landed with a graceful vol plant. In the morning Mr. Cody put up a flight of 64 mins. for the Manville prize. Excellent flying was witnessed by a big crowd during the afternoon. Mr. Raynham made a good flight on A. V. Roe's Farman, winning the Aggregate Time Flight, with Mr. Pixton on the Bristol second, and Lieut. Walker on the Howard- Wright third. One regrettable feature of the day was Mr. Hubert Latham's bad luck on his Antoinette. The machine was noticed to heel over while turning over the sheds ; one wing-tip touched, and one came down solid on the roof of the Martin-Handasyde hangar. Both machine and hangar were badly damaged. Mr. Latham attributes the smash to the failure of the warping control. He was out again later on, on the other Antoinette which Labouchere had been flying. Mr. Graham Gilmour delighted the crowd with some of his fancy turns carried out in fine style. Good flights were also put up by Gordon-England and Pixton on the Bristol, and Lieut. Watkins and Pecquet on the Howard Wright. Before starting back to Hendon, Mr. Barber gave a demonstration of high flying with both hands off the control, during which time the machine appeared to be very steady. Mr. Cody set out to return to Laffan's Plain during the evening. Avro School.—Mr. Raynham, one of Messrs. A. V. Roe's promising pupils, won the Brooklands Endurance Prize of ^50 on Bank-holiday, on one of their :;chool machines, which is an encouraging start for a beginner. During the week, Mr. Louis Noel, a new pupil, has been flyiDg, and promises well. Unfortunately, the Avro biplane, which has been leading in the Manvtlle Passenger-carrying Competition, which closes at 5.30, was not ready in time owing to some repairs. However, it was out soon after this time, and Mr. Conway Jenkins made a few flights, its speed, small size, and smart appearance being specially noticed by the spectators. At present the Cody is round about level with the Avro. Lieut. Schwarn, of the Barrow airship, who had a trip on the- 30-h. p. Avro, has ordered one of these machines, and intends to fit
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