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Aviation History
1911
1911 - 0583.PDF
JULY 8, 1911. between the first three competitors in this race over 150 kiloms. (equivalent to approximately 94 miles) is very convincing evidence that the makers have attained to a degree of efficiency with existing machines by which they are able to get every ounce of speed out of them. Although mere speed may not appear to be immediately to the benefit of the industry, especially as to attain the maximum the machines must be reduced to the very closest margin of safety, there can be little doubt that very valuable and practical lessons are begotten from the experience thereby gained, which ultimately must tend to the advancement of practical aviation. It is only by striving for and attaining a specific object, in this case high speed, that data for the future can be obtained. It is just a repetition of the early days of motorism. When speeds of 20 miles an hour were reached, through out the country a wave of protest arose that any attempt should be made to exceed such an outrageous pace. But She racing continued, and by degrees the lessons learned one by one by the manufacturers in their endeavours to get ahead of each other, led to the evolution of the magnificent and reliable motor car of the present day, which has become practically part of the nation's life. In like manner, there fore, it may be deplored by some that up to the present in competitions of this character it is speed pure and simple which is sought after, and all other side issues sacrificed to this one object, but it should be remembered that this is but a single item in the great struggle to obtain not only the ultimate stable machine but probably the speediest means of locomotion which the world has ever known. We hardly think that after the present year's contest the Gordon-Bennett Cup will be competed for under similar conditions again, and it is as well that this should be so, as the mere circling of an aerodrome for hours at a time is not likely, beyond the attainment of higher speed, to advance the science in any material way. The work of M. Leblanc on his Bleriot, who was Ih. 13m. 40JS., a little under 2 minutes longer than the winner, and of M. E. Nieuport's time of ih. 14m. 37fs., on the top of Mr. Weymann's (/HI] premier pertormance, constitute a magnificent monument to the ability of the French to build such efficient machines. In hardly less degree is Mr. Alec Ogilvie, with his " Baby " Wright, deserving of praise. That he should have been able to put up an average speed of over 51 miles an hour with this remarkable little biplane is a triumph for that type of machine. The steadiness with which he covered circuit after circuit, and the way in which he was able to hug the various mark towers on his machine, give the greatest confidence in the future of biplanes for useful and commercial purposes. The whole event must be written down a success from first to last. All the anticipations which so many people had forecasted for it were belied. Contrary to all anticipations, an enormous crowd, number ing fully 10,000, made for Eastchurch. So great was the invasion that it was with the greatest difficulty, under the conditions, that they were transported by the Chatham and Dover Railway. Over 200 cars brought a contingent numbering well up to a thousand, and these ranged along the back of the members' enclosure supplied an imposing and splendid background to the keenly interested crowd who watched every evolution of the machines, both in practice and during the race. Some had also journeyed over by way of the air, Eric England having flown from Brooklands in the morning on a Bristol, whilst H. R. Fleming and C. P. Pizey had started from Salisbury Plain, also on Bristols, and after touching at Brooklands en route, descended at Rochester, from which point they motored the rest of the way to Eastchurch, returning subsequently on their machines by way of the air. Although during the morning of the race it was dull and threatening, with a strong inclination to a puffy wind, a rain storm which broke just before one o'clock, sending a big contingent of the visitors off for lunch perhaps earlier than they might have otherwise wished, cleared the air and gave promise of a brighter outlook, which did not belie itself later. As the day wore on, the wind inclined to lessen, and the clouds ultimately gave way to welcome and continuous "Flight" Copyright. GORDON-BENNETT RACE AT EASTCHURCH.—M. Leblanc and his Bleriot machine, with which he secureo second place in the race. B»low, M. Leblanc is seen immediately after finishing; above, he is just off for the race: and on the right he is in flight over the course. 585
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