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Aviation History
1911
1911 - 0586.PDF
IftlGHT Hamel's start was made some ten minutes before three o'clock, and at three o'clock Chevalier, one of the French champions, took the air on one of the Nieuports—No. 12. He continued round and round, circuit alter circuit, his time varying between 3 and 4 mins. approximately for the full circuit of 6 kiloms. (3728 miles) and although his motor appeared to be working at times indifferently, he kept up for eleven full rounds and was just completing the twelfth circuit at 3,45 when he came down a quarter of a mile before the starting-line, breaking the under-carriage and wheels in the landing. It was curious to notice that Chevalier's machine, when passing over the starting-line, as seen from the first mark tower, seemed to make a curious little curtsey every circuit. Barely 3 minutes before No. 12 was put out of the running, Weymann on the 100-h.p. Gnome-engined Nieuport took his turn across the starting line, and the difference in speed was instantly noticeable. During no round did he exceed the 3 minutes, and several were got over at much faster speeds, so that by the time he had finished at about 4 minutes to 5, it was confidently forecasted that the winner was already found in Weymann with his ih. um.36Js. for the 150 kilometres course. Not content with completing the course, he continued on for several laps beyond until five minutes past the hour, when he narrowed his circles to withinside the mark towers, and ultimately came down gracefully side by side with Nieuport's machine, No. 11, which was standing beyond the members' enclosure ready for its turn. Chevalier in the meantime, at 4.40, had determined to take over another machine, and he accordingly once more rose over the course, but fared even worse than on his first mount, as within a couple of minutes he by some curious coincidence came down in the same field, and within 500 yards of the same spot where he had been compelled to land with his first machine. He was thus put completely out of the running. Just before 4.30 Alec. Ogilvie brought out the " Baby " Wright from its shed, and, losing no time, was soon up to the starting point, and away by 4.37. The new note in the "music" of the two Wright propellers, and the fact that the machine was a biplane, created fresh interest amongst the public, and as she steadily kept round on her course at a fine speed of over 54 miles an hour, considerable excitement was kept up by the over lapping of the slower machine by Weymann's Nieuport, and later by Leblanc's Bleriot and Nieuport's No. 11. After twenty laps on the " Baby " Wright, Ogilvie descended for petrol, but was soon away again, and finished the 94 miles in ih. 49m. logs., giving an JULY 8, 1911. average speed, including the time for replenishment, of 51 "31 m.p.h_ Although he was second to finish the full course, before his landing both Leblanc, on No. 5 Bleriot, and Nieuport, on his No. 11 monoplane, were putting in times almost equal to Weymann's, lap by lap. and it was evident that except for some unforeseen mishap Great Britain's chances of being high up in the final list were very remote, with Hamel and his racing Bleriot wiped out. M. Nieuport was in the air a quarter of an hour before M. Leblanc took up the running, at that time the three machines circling the aerodrome together, engendered keen excitement amongst the crowd. Leblanc at first appeared to be flying nearly 4 m.p.h. slower than Weymann had got out of his Nieuport, but with the engine running better and better he gradually increased his average speed rather than the other way, thereby raising hopes, doomed to disappointment, amongst the supporters of France. No doubt having learned his lesson from the mishap to Hamel, Leblanc was sufficiently cautious to take a wider sweep round the mark towers, as in like manner to Hamel's machine, M. Bleriot had cut down the span on his monoplane if anything to a greater extent. It was curious that Weymann also, after the first few rounds, had bettered his speed in the race. Nieuport's average speed ultimately worked out at over 75 m.p.h., whilst Leblanc, who finished at seven, was, as already stated, only a matter of two minutes longer than Weymann with the winning Nieuport. The heartiest congratulations were accorded to the American champion from both the French and British competitors, whilst rounds of cheering from the general public gave evidence once more of the true sporting instinct inherent in any cosmopolitan gathering of this nature. After racing was over, an informal dinner took place in a marquee- on the ground*, at which the competitors were entertained by the Royal Aero Club, and the Cup presented to Mr. Weymann. Both before the racing had commenced and after seven o'clock: Mr. Graham Gilmour, who, unfortunately, had not been able to get his fast machine ready in time, gave some excellent exhibition flights on the Bristol biplane, at one time passing away with a passenger for a long turn round the end of the course and then flying well away towards Sheerness. Little episodes of this character greatly helped towards the satisfaction and the enjoyment of the thousands who had travelled thus far and had courageously ventured on so onerous a journey on the Chatham and Dover Railway. GORDON-BENNETT RACE AT EASTCHURCH.—The starting line which the competitors had to cross in flight, as seen from the Press enclosure. At the other end of the line is the Judges' box, and right and left the scoring boards and public announcements. In the air above Mr. Alec Ogilvie is seen on his N.E.C.-engined " Baby " Wright, and below, Weymann, the winner, on his Nieuport monoplane. .588
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