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Aviation History
1911
1911 - 0594.PDF
"Flight" Copyright. EUROPEAN AVIATION CIRCUIT.—The first man— Vedrines—to arrive at Hendon Aerodrome on Monday, he having started from Calais at 4 a.m., and after making stops at Dover and Shoreham, landed at Hendon at 8h. 34m. 53|s. To the left is Thiry, and on the right Ramondon, his two trusty assistants throughout the -whole race. flyers, and at six o'clock a message was received by wireless telegraphy that ten of the aviators had reached Dover. Some anxiety was expressed as to the whereabouts of the odd man, but soon after seven a further message was received to say that all had arrived, and then the crowd, before breaking up, indulged in rounds of cheering. Of the aviators who had not reached Calais, Wynmalen set out to fly from Roubaix to Calais, but made a precipitate landing at St. Omar, resulting in some doit cassL Duval, also pluckily continuing in the competition, flew from Brussels to Roubaix. Realising that aviators were very early birds, the inhabitants of Dover roused themselves early; but even then were none too soon, for almost immediately after the three Dover tugs had got to their positions between the four French destroyers placed in a line across the Channel came the news that Vedrines had left Calais. About half-past four he was sighted somewhere about mid-Channel, and a few minutes later, guided by the smoking bonfires which had been lighted on the cliff, and the captive balloon, he arrived at the aero drome, and landing in faultless style, was greeted by his wife. Then at very brief intervals followed Vidart, Gibert, " Beaumont," Kimmer- ling, and Garros, each one landing to a great outburst of cheering. The last five to arrive came in a bunch led by Valentine, followed very closely by Train, Tabuteau, Renaux (who has been accom - panied throughout by his passenger, Senouques) and Barra. They were received by the Mayor and Mayoress, Sir William and Lady Crundell, General Inglefield, commanding at Dover, and other members of the Reception Committee, whose guests they were at breakfast. The times taken for the cross-Channel trip are shown in the accompanying table, and it will be seen that they are all a good deal more than that occupied by M. Bleriot and others, this doubtless being accounted for by the head wind. The aviators only indulged in about an hour's rest at Dover, and at six o'clock Vedrines led the way for Shoreham, the other competitors following at intervals of a few minutes in the order of their arrival with the exception of Barra, who was delayed for an hour attending to his engine. Vedrines was the first to reach Shoreham, the trip taking him one minute over an hour and a quarter. From the time of his arrival up to eight o'clock the other competitors came in in quick succession, with the exception of Renaux, Barra and Train. Barra had to descond at Heathfield, near Eastbourne, and there spent ten hours in adjusting his machine, while Renaux, after landing near Bodiam Castle, on the Kentish border, sent to Shoreham for mechanics and was delayed seven hours. Train missed his bearings and in landing at Newhaven chose a rather awkward spot; his machine ran backwards into a wire fence, and although the damage was not serious it would take some time to repair. Only a short stop was made at Shoreham, Vedrines leaving there at 7.33 and the others following him again in the order of their arrival, Tabuteau bringing up the rear at 8.20. At Hendon, Vedrines arrived if anything rather too early and the extremely large force of policemen, having no crowd to look after, were able to give their attention to the flyer and his machine. The news that the aviators were on their way to London quickly spread, however, and in the extremely rapid manner characteristic of the London crowd, the number of spectators mounted up until several thousand were there to give a welcome cheer to the later arrivals. About EUROPEAN AVIATION CIRCUIT.—Valentine, the only British aviator, arriving at Hendon on his Deperdussin machine. 596
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