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Aviation History
1911
1911 - 0589.PDF
JULY 8, 1911. FROM THE BRITISH Royal Aero Club Flying Ground, Eastchurch. AFTER the stirring events of last Saturday, which drew the attention of the civilised world to Eastchurch, and surely stamped it as unsurpassed as a flying ground in Great Britain, it is interesting to note that less than two years ago this magnificent flying ground was practically unknown. In that condition it might have remained to this day had it not been for the energy and foresight of Mr. Frank McClean, who, at that time a keen amateur aviator practising at the Leysdown Aerodrome, got to hear of the ground, and recognising what an ideal place it would be for those learning flying, promptly purchased same, and placed it at the disposal of the Aero Club of the United Kingdom—now the Royal Aero Club. The actual " discoverers " of the site were Messrs. Horace and Eustace Short, who, finding that the Leysdown Aerodrome, where they had erected a pioneer aeroplane factory, was rapidly becoming inaccessible owing to the bad state of the roads, began to explore the island in search of more suitable ground. After traversing the whole of the island in an ancient 7-h.p. Panhard car, whose distinctive feature was its ability to negotiate dykes and marshes, they finally discovered the large flat stretch of unbroken country which is now known as the Eastchurch Aerodrome. The pioneers at Leysdown were not long in making up their minds to migrate to the new ground, and within a few months of its discovery nearly all the sheds at Leysdown had been pulled down and re-erected at Eastchurch, most of the aviators flying their machines over to the new ground. The aerodrome was soon in a thriving condition, and many good flights were being made at a time when few all-English machines were in existence. The doings at Eastchurch, however, have never been so well " pushed " as those taking place at some of the other English flying grounds, which, being situated in more populous districts, are more accessible to the able pens of the newspaper reporters. Recently, the advent of the Naval officers, of Mr. Alec Ogilvie, and the interesting experiments of Lieut. Dunne, have drawn more attention to the place. It is only regrettable that Mr. McClean's absence on a scientific expedition prevented his being present to witness the " blue riband " of the air being contested for over the ground which his foresight and energy opened up to his fellow aviators. Apart from the Gordon-Bennett Race, which is fully reported elsewhere, little flying was done during the week, mainly owing to the unsettled weather conditions, which at one time threatened to ' interfere with the great race itself. On Monday Lieuts. Samson, Gerrard, Longmore and Gregory were all flying for several hours in the morning, and in the evening Lieut. Samson and Lieut. Gerrard flew on their Short biplanes to Dover and back. Starting from Eastchurch at 5 p.m. they both rose rapidly to a height of some 2,000 ft., and then headed a true course to Dover, flying in a head wind, which, at that height, was blowing 20 m.p.h. They experienced no difficulty in finding the Aviation Camp at Dover, and both landed very neatly in the rather cramped enclosure formed by the circle of tents. After being most cordially received and entertained to a light repast by the aviation colony they returned to Eastchurch, being assisted at the start by the able French mechanics, who, by the way, expressed astonishment at the rapidity with which the English machines ascended and at the high speed for a biplane type of machine. On their arrival Lieut. Gregory took up the machine which Lieut. Gerrard had been flying and made a long tour of the island, returning just as it was growing dusk. Brooklands Aerodrome. Avro School.—The chief item of news is that the Avro biplane of the Curtiss type has been doing very well in the hands of Mr. Raynham, several circuits of the ground being made at a height of 60 to 100 feet. It will shortly be fitted with hydroplanes for ex perimenting over water. Mr. R. C. Kemp has been away to Manchester to inspect the Avro biplane which is being built for him for the Daily Mail competition. It is hoped that this will make its appearance at Brooklands in about a week. The engine is to be a 60-80-h.p. E.N.V., so that the machine will be all-British. Freshfield Aerodrome, near Liverpool. MR. GERALD HIGGINBOTHAM, of Macclesfield, received his pilot's certificate from the Royal Aero Club on Saturday last, having gone through the test on his 50-h.p. Gnome-engined biplane. He showed consummate skill, especially when taking the right hand turns. Mr. Higginbotham has this week departed on a tour through Switzerland and France, and he will therefore not be doing any flying again for about a month. FLYING GROUNDS. Mr. King hopes to complete the repairs to his machine this week and again be in the air. Lanark Aerodrome. VERY little flying has been done at this school during the past week, owing to high winds and rain, the wind seldom blowing less than 20 m.p.h. even in the evenings. Only on Thursday evening did the wind moderate sufficiently to allow Mr. Ewen to take the school Bleriot out. Mr. Ewen was booked to give exhibition flights at Haddington on Saturday, July 1st. The previous day the machine arrived and was assembled, and on the Saturday morning Mr. Ewen made a short flight. Although the wind was very gusty in the afternoon, the pilot decided to attempt a flight, and taking his seat in the machine was soon flying along the exhibition ground. Ascending steadily, he then made for the river Tyne, and when half-way over the river it was noticed he was in difficulties, for the machine seemed to take a direct lift of over 10 ft. immediately after being tilted over to the right. This the pilot very smartly rectified by turning sharply to the left. On reaching the opposite bank, he found the wind so strong that he was forced to descend, but unfortunately, another gust caught him on the left wing, and dashed the machine to the ground, when it turned turtle, pinning the pilot beneath. The crowd immediately burst through the barriers and rushed to the river bank, but their fears were soon set at rest when they saw Mr. Ewen extricated from the machine apparently not much hurt. Many willing hands were ready to help, and the machine was quickly dismantled and conveyed back to its hangar, the river being crossed by rafts. London Aerodrome, Collindale Avenue, Hendon. Grahame-White School.—On Wednesday morning last week the conditions for flying were fairly good, and Hubert was fully engaged at instruction work. Driver, a pupil hailing from South Africa, whose progress has been very rapid and consistent, flew the school Farman for many single circuits with the object of getting proficient at the art of landing well. Davies also was receiving tuition in the form of passenger flights, while later on he did some rolling. The following day was so blustery that flying could not be ventured upon until very late in the evening, and even then, with the wind averaging 25 miles an hour, things were none too pleasant. It was almost dark when Paterson wheeled out the Grahame-White " Baby," and in his short flight of five circuits he proved con clusively the high stability qualities of this remarkable little model, and incidentally his total disregard of adverse conditions. Since the " Baby " has been cured of her original propeller trouble Lieut. Pepper, R.G.A., one of the Bristol pupils at Salisbury Plain, who passed for his Royal Aero Club certificate last week. 591
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