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Aviation History
1911
1911 - 0681.PDF
AUGUST 5, 1911. 1/ySHT] TERRITORIALS AND AIR WORK. By "SAPPER." THE London Balloon Company, R. E. Territorials, have just con cluded their annual training at the Ball >on School, Farnborough, •and some highly-instructive work has been got through. Several ascents have been made in captive and free balloons and Cody's war kites. On Saturday, July 22nd, the Company proceeded by road to Basingstoke, carrying full equipment, to give a demonstra tion of observation work under service conditions. Some highly- important information as to the enemy's position, scouts, number, &c., •was obtained. The \rmy airship " Gamma " has been taking advantage of the good weatht-r and put in some excellent trips, some as early as 3 a.m. At many of the journeys the London Balloon Company have assisted the Regular Air Battalion in the handling of the airship, some useful airship experience being thus gained for the first time. On Friday, July 28th, owing to the kindness of Lieut. Ridge and Mr. De Havilland, the N.C.O.'s and men of the Company were taken, one at a time, for a 3-mile trip in the De Havilland biplane, Mr. De Havilland himself piloting the machine. These passenger flights vere very much enjoyed by all of us, and •lasted about five minutes each. A slight tribute here to the De Havilland biplane may not be amiss. It is now of the 0-2-P-1 type (originally I-2-P-I, but since the front elevator was dispensed with has flown much better and faster), is fitted with a 50-h.p. De Havilland engine and a De Havilland propeller. It is worth while noting that the machine has been designed, built and flown entirely by Mr. De Havilland, even down to the engine and propeller, and is not an imitation of other people's work. During the day Mr. De Havilland was flying for about four hours, only coming down to refill petrol tank and radiator or to take up a fresh passenger. During all these flights not one single accident or breakage occurred to the machine and every flight was finished with a fine vol plane, sometimes not switching on engine when landing. Another good point, although the weight of passengers varied from 9 to 13 stone, no adjustment was found necessary, nor even when flying without passenger. The speed of the machine under test is: slowest, 32 m.p.h. ; fastest, 41 m.p.h. By way of conclusion, a good, strong and reliable aeroplane is just the thing needed by the Company, and would make a very welcome present to the London Balloon Company, R. £. Territorials. Will somebody assist them to their desires ? $ ® ® ® OUR AVIATRESSES. Is it not curious that with practically one exception, that of Miss Edith Meeze, at the Valkyrie school, all our English lady enthusiasts who are seriously taking lessons in flying should be drawn from the ranks of the married. One is almost led to infer that matrimonial bliss has the effect of strengthening the feminine nerves and of endowing considerable courage. Mrs. Hewlett, who, in partnership with M. Blondeau, has directed a most successful flying school at Brooklands during the past twelve months, is rapidly becoming an efficient pilot of the Farman biplane. She has already flown many circuits and it should not be long before she obtains the coveted brevet. It was a pity that Mrs. Martin could not remain long enough in England to complete her course, as, under her husband's tuition at the Grahame-White school, she proved a most apt pupil. So proficient was she that on the morning she sailed for America she circled the London Aerodrome twelve times on the school Farman. Mme. Franck will be remembered as the aviatress who unfortu nately met with an accident while giving an exhibition at the Boldon racecourse. Although bearing a foreign nomme de guerre she was of British extraction, being the wife of an English journalist resident in Paris. Her experience was gained with Henry Karman at Mourmelon, and although she had made several good flights over the flat plains around the Camp de Chalons, she had hardly advanced sufficiently to attempt an exhibition over a racecourse bristling with obstacles. Mrs. Palmer commenced her tuition at Lane's gliding school, but she has now graduated to the Martin-Handasyde. The latest addition to the ranks of lady pupils is Mrs. D. de Beauvoir Stokes, a keen motoring enthusiast, who is learning to fly a Farman at Grahame-White's Hendon school. She is possessed of indomitable pluck, and her instructor, Driver, hints that with a fair amount of luck as regards favourable weather conditions, she should obtain her pilot's credentials within three weeks. Graham Gilmour, who was refused—by the Royal Aero Club—permission to take part in the Circuit of Britain, .standing by his special Bristol biplane. On the right a creped laurel wreath is being placed on his hangar as a token of mourning for non-participation. 683
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