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Aviation History
1911
1911 - 0698.PDF
l/yc HT AUGUST 12, 1911. biplane which was recently purchased by Commander Schwann and fitted with a couple of floats. No attempt was made to get the machine in the air, but both Commander Schwann and Lieut. Boothby made trials with it, the former contenting himself with a straight run, while Lieut. Boothby made a circular trip on the surface of the Cavendish Dock. On Wednesday during some tests with the floats reversed the machine capsized but the pilot escaped with a ducking. Trial Flights with "Gamma.'* VERY early in the morning of Wednesday last week the Army dirigible "Gamma" was brought out of its shed, and with Lieut. C. M.Waterlowin charge, and Capt. E. M. Maitland, Lieut.T. Ridge, and a mechanic on board, it cruised for some consider able time over Aldershot Camp and district at heights ranging up to 1,000 ft. The alterations which have been carried out during the process of overhauling appear to be giving every satisfaction. "Art of Aviation." MESSRS. CROSBY LOCKWOOD AND SON have just published a second and revised up-to-date edition of Mr. Robert W. A. Brewer's "Art of Aviation." A Model Competition at Bath. SHOULD the weather permit, it is proposed to hold a model aeroplane competition in Bath on Saturday, September 2nd, at half-past three. Some ten different classes have been arranged, and the entry fee has been fixed at 3d. per model. It is hoped to offer some small prizes, but this will depend upon the amount of support received. All likely competitors are asked to communicate with Mr. S. H. Baker, 11, Elm Place, Bloomfield Road, Bath. Army and Navy and Aviation. DISAPPOINTING as was Col. Seely's recent statement in the House of Commons as to the Government's policy regarding aviation, still more so were his replies to some questions asked by Sir J. Lonsdale and Mr. Lee in the House last week. No great expense, he stated, is likely to be incurred in the near future in the purchase of aeroplanes, though some will have to be bought. The recent demonstrations had attracted the attention of the War Office, and it is certainly necessary to add to the number now in possession of the Army, but as to how many or when no general statement could be made, as the matter was still under consideration. Mr. McKenna was also tackled as to recent experiments conducted in France with regard to the detection of submarines by observers in aeroplanes and communication between aeroplanes and battleships by wireless telegraphy. The Admiralty only had the information which had appeared in the Press on the subject, which is not over much. With regard to the training of officers as aviators for scouting and offensive purposes apparently the information is a little more up-to-date, as Mr. McKenna was actually able to report the completion of the four officers' six months' course of instruction at Eastchurch. Really, there is still some hope that the Government will be themselves presently, as he continued that the question of commencing another course is now under the consideration of the Board. The training so far given has been of a general nature only. This just leaves us wondering what the official interpretation of "general nature " is. In reply to a question as to the desirability of making a large increase in the number of officers trained as aviators, following the good example of the War Office, Mr. McKenna said the Navy's requirements were not the same as those of the War Office, but the question of the requirements ot the service was being considered. ® ® ® ® "LONDON BRIGHTON RETURN BY AEROPLANE. ON Sunday evening of last week Miss Trehawke Davies booked a return ticket between Hendon and Brighton at the Hendon offices of the Aeronautical Syndicate, Ltd., suggesting that the flight should commence at 6 o'clock next morning. Previously, Miss Davies had made several less important cross-country flights on a Valkyrie monoplane, and we believe it is the first occasion on which a passenger has booked a return aeroplane passage to Brighton. On Monday at 5.55 a.m. Mr. Barber took out the 50-h.p. Gnome- Valkyrie racer and in a slight breeze ascended with his passenger ; making only two circuits of the aerodrome, he quickly attained an altitude of 500 ft., and punctually at six o'clock passed over the boundary of the flying ground in the direction of Brighton. Before reaching Harrow the wind had considerably increased from the south, and half an hour passed before the aviators arrived over Brooklands track at an altitude of 1,500 ft. Owing to the strong.head wind Mr. Barber deemed it advisable to descend there in order to replenish the petrol tanks. Cutting off his engine he made a long spiral vol plant!, passing close to a swift.', Nieuport machine, and landed close to a group of Brooklands enthusiasts. In ten minutes the fuel tanks were replenished, and assisted by friendly aviators and mechanics he was orice more on the wing heading for Shoreham. An altitude of 1,400 ft. was maintained ; higher up the wind was found to be very strong, the barometer registering drops of 100 ft. in a few seconds. When in sight of Lancing College and Shoreham Aerodrome the petrol supply was exhausted owing to the Strong head wind, and the pilot made a forced descent near Steyning in a four-acre field surrounded by trees. To ascend from such a restricted space necessitated a fine effort of airmanship, which Mr. Barber negotiated in the evening, flying through a gap in the trees with only 3 ft. to spare, and in five minutes he landed at the Brighton and Shoreham Aerodrome. On Tuesday morning the return journey was commenced at 7.56, in spite of a twenty mile an hour wind. At an altitude of 1,000 ft. the aviators flew into the clouds ; and the wind increased ® ® Height Record Again Beaten. THE altitude record has not long stood to the credit of M. Loridan and the Henry Farman type of machine, for on Saturday morning Capt. Felix on a Bleriot machine, at Etampes, during a flight of I hr. 15 mins. duration, reached 3,490 metres (10,990 ft.) according to his barograph. He came down by a vol plane in 12J; mins. A Chauviere propeller and Gnome motor were fitted to the machine. By way of practice, Capt. Felix on the previous day made two high flights, on one occasion rising to 1,500 metres and the second time to 2,500 metres. Loridan's record was 3,200 metres, which beat Legagneux's Bleriot record of 3,100 metres. Incidentally, the flight furnished some interesting data regarding to over 35 miles per hour. This was evident from the fact that in only ten minutes the Valkyrie was over Horsham. Mr. Barber descended on the Golf Links, \\ miles north of Horsham, alighting at 8.7 a.m., exactly 11 minutes after leaving Shoreham, having travelled at a speed of about 95 miles per hour. Immense interest was shown by thousands of people from the surrounding country. Half a gale of wind blew all day, and it only calmed down towards 8 p.m., when Mr. Barber decided to put up a demon stration. A charge of 6d. and 30?. was made, and some 6,000 people availed themselves of this opportunity of examining the aeroplane, and witnessing a magnificent flight at an altitude of 2,000 ft. The entire proceeds were given to the local Cottage Hospital. Mr. Barber and his passenger were most hospitably entertained by Mr. C. J. Lucas, of Warnham Court. At dawn on Wednesday, Mr. Barber flew his machine from the Golf Links to Wrarnham Court, and alighted on the lawns immediately in front of the house to pick up his passenger. Thus Miss Davies suffered no more inconvenience than had her motor driven up to the front door. Once more a thrilling ascent was successfully accomplished, sharp right and left hand turns being necessary to pass between the trees. Clouds were flying low, and a fresh breeze sprang up, but Mr. Barber flew with steadiness, although unable to ascend to a greater altitude than 800 ft. owing to the mist. In spite of the adverse conditions, Mr. Barber made a fine non-stop flight to Hendon, arriving at 6.10 a.m. On alighting Miss Davies was more enthusiastic than ever. The greater part of the trip had been made in a high wind, but, nothing daunted, Miss Davies expressed her desire to make a Continental tour on the Valkyrie machine. So much mist was encountered on the journey that Mr. Barber had to rely almost entirely on his Clift compass, which carried him on the direct route throughout. We believe that Miss Trehawke Davies has created an English lady- passenger record by having accomplished this London - Brighton return journey by aeroplane. ® ® the way in which progress becomes slower the higher the altitude reached. Approximately, during the first quarter of an hour Capt. Felix climbed 1,250 metres, in the next fifteen minutes he rose 1,170 metres, the third quarter of an hour saw him 600 metres higher, while after taking a further fifteen minutes to rise 470 metres, the elevator appeared to have no further appreciable raising effect. New Passenger Speed Records. THE following passenger speed records made by Level on his Savary biplane at Chartres have now been officially passed in France:—Distance and duration—24179 kiloms. in 3I1. 13m. 3Sfs. Time—2 hours, 151 kiloms. ; 3 hours, 224*85 kiloms. Distance—200 kiloms. in 2h. 38m. 26|s. 700
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