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Aviation History
1911
1911 - 0797.PDF
SEPTEMBER 16, 191 I. [/LIGHT] THE FIRST AERIAL POST OF THE U.K.—Hamel leaving the Hendon Aerodrome on his Ble'riot for his 108-m.p.h. journey to Windsor on Saturday last. landed on Nazeing Common, a point some twenty miles north ot London. Gustav Hamel made another trip to Windsor on Monday evening delivering two mail bags and yet another on Tuesday evening, Greswell making a trip in the morning and Driver two trips. The following are the times of the various outward journeys with the number of mail bags conveyed :— would have a greater adverse effect on the lay mind's estimation of the aeroplane than would be caused by any slight disorder in the methodical running of the service. On Wednesday the severe weather made it impossible for the service to be carried out. Saturday— Aviator. Hamel Monday— Driver Greswell Hamel Tuesday— Greswell Driver j» Hamel Left. Hendon. ... 4.58 p.m. ... 6.30 a.m. .. 6.35 a.m. 6.15 p.m. .. 6.10 a.m. ... 6 22 a.m. ... 8.43 a.m. ... 5.58 p.m. Arrived Windsor. 5. 8 p.m. 7. 5 a.m. 7. 0 a.m. 6.45 p.m. 7.40 a.m. 6.52 a.m. 9.13 a.m. 6.31 p.m. No. of bags. 1 4 2 2 2 4 3 2 AD- Coronation -i»u . FIRST UK-AERIAL POST Greswell's time of arrival at Windsor on Tuesday •is accounted for by his having lost his bearings through a haze which he had to fly through, and having to descend at Slough to ask his way. So much general interest has been aroused by this novel method of delivering mails, that doubtless a great deal of the public's appreciation of the aeroplane is dependent on the regularity with which the service is maintained. On the other hand, although great strides have been made in wind flying, on account of improvement in design of the machine and greater confidence and skill on the part •of the pilot, it must be confessed that the day of the weather-indifferent aeroplane is not yet at hand. Under these circumstances it is to be hoped that those pilots to whom the service has been entrusted -will not be tempted to take any undue risks, for it is certain that a serious accident connected with a scheme that is at present so much in the public eye fA<t<li*»t only t fet?«-/« OY u~*J- CJ-C. A_^>v_^. & u^r /u^a &-*^\s AN HISTORICAL DOCUMENT.—By way of record we reproduce the above postcard, despitcbed by the First Aerial Post of the United Kingdom on Saturday last, and addressed to the Editor of FLIGHT, one of many which we received from our readers by way of a little compliment. We hope that the suggestion of our correspondent in this case on the reverse side of the card, may materialise in time to come. His messape reads as follows: " This card ought to be worth ^,K),000 000.000 to FLIGHT in a few years time. Je ne pense pas!" ® ® ® ® •Cross-Country Flying on Bristol Monoplanes. A VERY fine cross country flight was made on Monday evening •on one of the new Bristol monoplanes by Mr. Graham Gilmour. Leaving Amesbury at 6 o'clock he set out for Devizes, but owing to the mist which prevailed he got off his course and failed to find either Devizes or Chippenham. He continued on for some time, however, and then recognised a large town which loomed up on the left as Bath. From there he steered a course to Bristol, but close by Brislington thick smoke cleuds obscured his vision and he had to fly entirely by guesswork. He judged his direction very accurately however, and recognising the works of the British and Colonial Aeroplane Co. at Filton by their white roofs he planed down steeply from about 500 ieet into the field at the back, landing at exactly twenty minutes past seven. During the trip of fifty minutes he must have covered between 70 and 80 miles. Mr. Gilmour expressed himself as delighted w ith the ease and control of the .Bristol monoplane. The Importance of Details. IN a letter to the Press, M. R. Esnault-Pelterie states that as a result of inquiries conducted by himself, and also by the military authorities, the conclusion has been reached that the fatal accidents to Capt. Camine. and Lieut, de Grailly were caused by the use of glue for fastening the fabric at the trailing edges of the main planes. The wings were, moreover, not made by M. Pelterie, and in spite of his protests the use of glue was persisted in. The tragedy is a terrible lesson as to the need of paying attention to what may appear but minor points in construction, and M. Pelterie suggests that the use of glue may have been due to a negligent workman. Both the un'ortunate officers, in spite of the condition of their machines, by their skill were able to very nearly reach the ground safely, but Capt. Camine's monoplane ran into a bank and was wrecked, while the petrol tank, for some unexplained reason, burst on Lieut, de Grailly's machine. 799
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