FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1911
1911 - 0635.PDF
JOLY 22, 1911. 1/i.lCHTl FROM THE BRITISH FLYING GROUNDS. Royal Aero Club Flying Ground, Eastchurch. ALTHOUGH there is nothing particularly striking to record this week, yet there has been quite a large amount of practice work by the Naval officers, several really praiseworthy nights having been accomplished. The iact of the matter is that we have become so accustomed to the work of these aviators that it requires something quite out of the ordinary to move us to enthusiasm. Having explored Sheppey from end to end, and at the same time taken in a goodly portion of the mainland as well, the officers are at present devoting their attention mainly to flights conducted with the idea of gleaning all they can of the problematical air currents, and other interesting experiments. In the early morning of Tuesday of last week Lieuts. Samson and Gerrard made several short flights in a fairly strong breeze. On Wednesday Lieuts. Samson, Longmore, Gerrard and Gregory all made long cross-country passenger-carrying flights on their Short biplanes. There was a strong N.E. wind blowing at the time, which, up aloft, was computed to be quite up to 30 m.p.h., and the skilful handling of the machines, which flew quite steadily, was much admired by all who witnessed the flights. Thursday witnessed another long spell of practice work by all four Naval officers. Lieuts. Samson and Longmore on their Short biplanes, and Mr. Alec Ogilvie on the "Baby" Wright, were all flying together at a good altitude, and with Lieut. Dunne on his monoplane (who was also making straight flights at the same time) they made quite an animated picture. Lieuts. Gregory and Gerrard were later both flying together, the former covering the greater part of the island in his flight, and landing with a well-judged vol plane from 1,800 ft. Early on Friday morning, although rather misty, Lieuts. Samson and Gerrard made a number of good flights, and later in the day all four officers carried out long cross-country flights in addition to numerous flights in the vicinity of the aerodrome. Lieut. Gregory again made almost a tour of the island, touching Leysdown, Eastchurch and Minster, then out to sea for a mile, and keeping at that distance from the coast he passed Sheerness and round Garrison Point to Queenborough and Kingsferry back to the aerodrome, landing with a vol plant with engine stopped from 1,700 ft. Lieuts. Samson and Gerrard, who were both in the air together, gave good exhibitions, the former making figures of eight, and right and left-hand turns in faultless style, and descending with one of his now well-known spiral glides. He was very shortly in the air again, carrying Mr. Travers as passenger, and he gave another high-class exhibition before bringing the machine down gracefully again, this time for the night. On Saturday morning Lieut. Samson got in some good practice flights before folk were astir, taking advantage of what proved to be the only brief spell of flying weather throughout the day. Sunday was a blank day, as was Monday, except for short flights in a strong wind by Lieuts. Samson and Longmore. Brighton-Shoreham Aerodrome. AFTER spending a few days here since flying over from Paris, Mr. Morison mounted his Morane at 4.50 p.m. on Friday last week and flew to Brooklands, landing there forty minutes later. Messrs. Metzgar Bros, and Leno's machine is fast nearing completion, and should be ready for trill in a few days. Great preparations are being made here for the reception of the racers in the Daily Mail second ^10,000 contest, and for the accommodation and comfort of the public, who will have a splendid opportunity of seeing the men and their machines for I;., 2s. 6rf., and 51. each person, while cars, including the chauffeur, can enter at 5-s. or ios., according to the enclosure chosen. Holders of season tickets are admitted free. Brooklands Aerodrome. ON Wednesday of last week no flying was possible, the anemometer registering up to 30 m.p.h. The next day was equally blank. Mr. O. C. Morison on Friday created a diversion when he arrived here from Shoreham in 40 mins. on the Morane-Borel monoplane entered for the Daily Mail Race. His machine was sighted some time before landing, and was fascinating to watch in the brilliant sunshine, landing after a smart turn, raising the dust owing to the speed of the machine. Lieut. Watkins, out on the Howard Wright biplane, also entered for Saturday's race, made short rapid flights. The Walton and Edwardes biplane is just finished. The engine is placed unusually high, the struts connecting the two planes being about 18 ins. longer than on a Farman. After tuning up during the day a start was made, but in a 30 yds. run the machine wobbled and one of the wheels gave way, causing a lurch which made it impossible to continue. Mr. Pixton, flying his Bristol, carried out some good flights. A Bristol pupil, Mr. De Grey Warter, flew for his brevet. Getting up neatly, his first circuit was wide, but the remainder were made very steadily, keeping over the green in front of the hangars at an average of 80 ft., and finishing well on the mark. In the second course, taking off the ground in a 15 yards run and making for 100 ft. altitude, the machine was steered in fine style, landing after a left-hand turn. The observers, Messrs. Poynter and Johnstone, not being satisfied with the altitude, Mr. de Grey Warter will fly again to qualify for this test. Mrs. Hewlett, as passenger pupil under Mr. Blondeau, made a number ol circuits, Mrs. Hewlett controlling the lever. Mr. Brown, of the same school, made some fast flights on the school Farman, and looks like soon being ready to take his certificate. Lieut. Watkins was out on Jack Dare's Howard Wright with passenger, Mr. Johnstone taking his place on descending. The new Avro biplane, specially built for school work, was at work, Mr. Hunter doing rolling and straight flights. A decided change in temperature, with a rough wind, was experienced on Saturday. Mr. S. F. Cody arrived from Farn- borough early, with the intention of flying for the Manville prize, but unfortunately a mishap to the shaft of his propeller put him out of the running at Brooklands. He was obliged to hurry back to get in his flight at Farnborough on the new Cody biplane. This machine is credited with getting up very quickly, the trouble with the engine having been found to be caused by the propeller being too large. A smaller one was tried, and now the E.N.V. engine is running perfectly. Mr. Macfie's V-shap:d biplane, which made its first appearance at Brooklands on Tuesday, but had to retire from the Circuit of Britain owing to the chassis being damaged. 637
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
