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Aviation History
1911
1911 - 1058.PDF
\ftjGhf DECEMBER 9, 1911. FROM THE BRITISH FLYING GROUNDS. Royal Aero Club Flying Ground, Eastcburch. SOME very good flying was witnessed at the Eastchurch aerodrome during the week, although, generally speaking, the weather has been in no way ideal for the purpose. On Sunday, Jezzi was out on his new biplane, and made some excellent flights. Since last week he has made some further im provements in his machine, particularly in giving a deep stream-line form to the main chassis-struts, and also to the fuselage tail, which is now completely covered in, and is joined in a gradual taper from the pilot's shoulders to the tail plane, reminding one somewhat of the Breguet. Seen in flight on Sunday, the machine presented a very neat appearance, and behaved exceedingly well. Lieut. Dunne was also making straight flights during the day. On Monday, Ogilvie was out on his N.E.C.-engined Wright biplane, making some exceedingly fine flights in a strong wind. The machine gave evidence of great climbing power, Mr. Ogiltfie evidently finding no difficulty in rising, during one circuit of the aerodrome, to a height which, by careful judgment, could not have been less than 1,500 ft. Lieut. Grtgory was also flying in the afternoon, this being his first time out since his recent illness, and all were glad to see him back again. By way of showing that he had not lost any of his old flying form, he made a flight to Sheerness Harbour and back, circling round H. M.S. " Actaeon " as she lay at anchor. Returning, he put in some fine practice over the aerodrome, making some exceedingly neat turning movements, banking the Short biplane he was flying in true Grahame-White fashion. On Monday and Tuesday, Mr. S. P. Cockerell and Mr. V. A. Barringlon Kennett, both of the Territorial Balloon Company, put in their first practice, under Mr. Travers' guidance, on trie 70-h.p. Short bipltne. Mr. Cockerell, by the way, already has his R Ae.C. pilot certificate, and judging from his first performance at Eastchurch is cut out for a really good flyer. Mr. Barrington Kennett had his first experience of piloting from the passenger pilot seat of the new machine, from which, by a special dual control, a pupil is able to take charge at the will of the instructor. Brlghton-Shoreham Aerodrome. ON Sunday several well-known aviators visited this Aerodrome, the party including Mr. D. Graham Gilmour, Mr. Oscar Morrison, Mr. Radley, and Lieut. J. C. Porte, whose two-seater Deperdussin is stationed here. Lieut. Porte gave Mr. Gilmour an opportunity of trying the Deperdussin, and after a splendid exhibition off the Brighton Front, he returned in good form to the ground, and expressed himself highly delighted with the machine. In the Chanter School good work has been done. On Wednesday last week Hamilton-Ross was doing straight flights. He managed to run into sheds on landing but without hurt. Kent and " Brown," two new Brighton pupils, put in their first rolling lesson on Thursday, and continued the practice on Friday, making good progress. Saturday saw these two pupils out again, Kent getting his tail off. On Sunday, Kent and Davey were doing short hops. Monday, De Villiers put in some rolling with tail off, and on Tuesday De Villiers and Gassier managed some straight flights. The Chanter monoplane is waiting for her new propeller. The local model club were doing good work here during the last week, on Saturday several machines making some splendid flights. Brooklands Aerodrome. WEDNESDAY last week was a busy day, owing to the perfect weather. Kemp was out first on the Vickers; then Raynham on the Green-Avro and on the Viale-Avro in turn. Lieut. Wilkins brought one of the Deperdussins down in the sewage farm, but without serious damage of any sort. Lieut. Porte was out later on the 35-h.p. Deperdussin, whilst Young and Setti did straight flights on the Green-Avro. In the afternoon Wilkins again had a minor accident on the Deperdussin, breaking one of the front skids in landing. Both Bristols, both Avros, the Walton-Edwards, Ducrocq's Farman, the Deperdussins, the Martin-Handasyde were all in the air, several being up at one time. Snowden-Smith took the Hewlett-Blondeau racing biplane over Aldershot. It is a pity that the public does not realise the fact that fine flying Can usually be seen all day at this time of year, owing to the absence of tricky remous, which are the bugbear of summer flying. _ Sopwith was flying the Martin-Handasyde, which did splendidly circuit after circuit, taking up several passengers, including Handasyde. This machine is very fast and seems to suit Sopwith, who put in som- fine banked turus and vol plants. Late in the afternoon Noel took out the Green-engined Avro on which Young and Setti had previously been doing straight flights, 1060 but owing to the bad light hit the low bank round the sewage farm when abou: two feet from the ground. In consequence the landing chassis and the bottom planes were badly damaged. Ducrocq made his usual evening trip out over Weybridge, and Spencer, who was in the air for a long while during the afternoon with passengers, again made several excellent flights. His machine is an exceptionally fine one of its type, its chief points being that of high speed and delicacy of control. It is also apparently very stable, only a very slight, almost imperceptible, movement of the control lever being neefssary. Everyone was glad to see the return of E. V. B. Fisher, who has been resting at Margate after the effects of his smash in the Vickers. He seems quite recovered, and is anxious to start flying again. On Thursday, Raynham was out on the Viale-Avro, Knight doing straights on the Vickers. Some excitement was caused by the arrival of Cody from LafTan's Plain soon after 4 o'clock. He came over with Lieut. Parke as passenger. The latter is now learning on the Cody machine, and has already managed a circuit on it. In spite of numerous invitations to stop for the night they decided to return, and after circling the ground set off back in the direction of Aldershot. Weather on Friday was dull and windy. Nevertheless, Raynham was at work on the Viale-Avro, and the Walton-Edwards machine, after an engine test, made several straight flights in its usual stately manner. Capt. Beattie later took out the Vickers, rolling, and expressed himself as being pleased with the " feel " of the machine. At dusk, Lieut. Snowden-Smith returned in uniform with a large number of sappers on a lorry with the Hewlett-Blondeau, which, though dismantled, was in no way damaged. This was a surprise to most, as a statement had appeared in the morning Press that the machine was badly damaged owing to its coming down from 800 ft. through engine failure. The facts are as follows : Lieut. Snowden- Smith had to make a hurried landing, which he did in perfect safety, but owing to the smallness of the field in which he came down, thought it more expeditious to take the machine apart and bring it back to Brooklands by road. Saturday was a bad day for flying, but was remarkable for a magnificent flight on the Martin-Handasyde by Graham Gilmour in a very high wind. Making two circuits he controlled the machine in an extraordinary manner, and though knowing of this pilot's skill, onlookers were glad to see him back to earth again. Raynham was also out making straight flights on the Avro machine, showing great steadiness. An excellent flying day resulted on Sunday. Bristols, Spencer, Blondeau, were all out with passengers; Raynham was up on the Avro; and Kemp on the Vickers was flying strongly at 500 or 600 ft. Later, Beattie was doing straight flights on the same machine. After lunch, two specks appeared in the sky at an altitude of about 2,000 or 3,000 ft. over in the direction of the paddock. Upon closer approach, they turned out to be Salmet, on a 50-h.p. Gnome- Bleriot, and Hamel, on a military-type two-seater of the same make, accompanied by a lady passenger. The latter pilot came down with a splendid vol plant of alternately right and left-handed curves, and subsequently gave a fine exhibition of flying. Monday, Wilkins was out on the school Deperdussin, but, owing to the engine not pulling well, came down again. Longcroft managed to badly smash one of the Bristols by bringing the machine from the tips of its skids on to the front elevator when at only a few feet from the ground. The machine stood on its head, causing Longcroft to strike his head rather forcibly; but there was nothing serious, as by the afternoon he was out and about. Later, Raynham took out the Avro; Spencer and Pizey were also up. Graham Gilmour again flew the Martin-Handasyde, while the Walton- Edwards made turns and straight flights in greatly improved style. During the afternoon Kemp flew the Vickers for several circuits, and though the engine was not pulling as well as usual, the machine climbed and flew quite satisfactorily. W. D. Johnstone, who has just returned from Buc, where he had been flying at the R.E.P. school, then went for straight flights. Though one of his landings was rather bumpy, his management of the machine was distinctly good. On Tuesday there was heavy rain in the morning at first, clearing up, however, later. Black ourn on the Walton-Ed wards made several straight flights, while Raynham put in a couple of circuits on the Viale-Avro. In the afternoon, Gordon Bell, who used to fly the Deperdussin so well, was first out on the Martin-Handasyde. Going up in the machine for the first time, he flew for twelve circuits in excellent Style, Without the customary preliminary of " straights." The machine was afterwards taken out by Graham Gilmour, first solus and later with a lady passenger. Fleming and Pizey were out on
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