FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1911
1911 - 1131.PDF
DECEMBER 30, 1911. WAR OFFICE orders are beginning to dribble out. In this con nection, the British and Colonial Aeroplane Co., Ltd., have booked orders from the authorities for their Bristol Military two-seater monoplane. Through their enterprise in exhibiting at the Paris Aero Salon they have already received commands to supply Foreign Governments, so their works should be running at top speed for some time to come. • • . America looks like producing an aviation " Pennington "judging by the startling claims made by Wallace E. Tillinghast. Among other things he claims to have discovered the principle of soaring flight, and says that two years ago he remained stationary for an hour several thousand feet above Long Island. Incidentally he asserts that the Wrights' soaring experiments have been discon tinued because of his patent rights. It seems extraordinary that nothing has been heard of this scheme before, and no surprise will be felt that absolute secrecy and refusals to give any outward demon strations are the guiding features of this inventor. * • • A special train of eight CMS left Washington on November 28th, or Augusta, Georgia, carrying the Army Aviation Corps to their winter camp. Capt. Chandler is in charge, assisted by Lieuts. Kirkland, Arnold, and Milling, with Dr. J. P. Kelly as physician. • • • The rumour was current a few days ago in Paris that the two well- known Belgian aviators, Van den Born and Jules Tyck, both of whom had already made flights in the Far East, had volunteered their services to the Turkish Government for action at the seat of war in Tripoli. The report is absolutely unfounded, however, and the kindly feelings that they entertain towards their friends in Italv have prompted both these aviators to utter strong denials. As a matter of fact Van den Born has been suffering these past three months from a violent attack of rheumatism, and as it was at the expense of all his available energy that he managed to drag himself from his quarters in Paris to the offices of a Paris contemporary to make protest in person it is evident that he is scarcely in a fit condition to undertake military service. • * • As for Jules Tyck, I am glad that this affair has brought his name into the papers, for he was " killed" by the Press some time since, and even from the Aero Club of Belgium was it impossible to get confirmation of this or any knowledge as to his whereabou's. • • • A very noticeable feature about the trend of design at the Paris Salon is that most of the French constructors of biplanes are adopt ing the fuselage as a central unit in the construction of the machine and, for safety's sake, are placing the engine in front of the pilot. This is really somewhat of a compliment to constructors on this side ® ® 44 Le Triumphe de la Navigation Aerienne." THIS is a veritable Magnum opus in which Count Henry de la Vaulx has set down his observations of the practical development of aerial navigation during the past decade, to which he considers it is more or less confined. To readers of FLIGHT, and to those who followed the history of aerial navigation in the pages of Auto. previous to 1909, Count De la Vaulx needs no introduction, and although he is better known for his work in connection with balloons and dirigibles, he has not failed to take a lively interest in the development of the heavier-than-air machine. The opening chapters are devoted to ballooning, and then the author passes on to the dirigible balloon, and from that to the aeroplane. He has endeavoured to place himself in the position of an independent observer, and from that point of view notes the various facts of the development of aerial navigation during the past ten years, and points out their consequences. Technicalities are tabooed, except in so far as they are necessary to permit of a clear understanding of the characteristics of the various things described. Apart from the interesting reading which the book provides, there is a most valuable collection of photographs ; in point of fact, there are about 300 in the 400 large quarto pages which go to make up this mighty tome, and the volume will be valued for these alone. The book is pub lished by Jules Tallandier, Paris, at the price of 12 francs stitched in paper covers, and 16 francs bound. Incidentally, it is extra ordinary, bearing in mind the admirable way in which the book is printed and illustrated, that, as in most cases with French books, the binding and cover, of the cheaper edition at any rate, are totally inadequate for the large volume, and are not even worthy of the ordinary sixpenny novel as produced in England. If properly bound, the 16-franc edition should assuredly be the most satisfactory in the end. [/OGHT] IES. of the Channel, and to Mr. A. V. Roe in particular, for to that gentleman must be given the credit of originating this type of design. • » • Not content with the already successful type of hydro-aeroplane which has been used with so much success in the States, Glenn H. Curtiss has returned to San Diego, California, where he intends to spend the winter in carrying out further experiments on this type of craft. He has already produced one new machine, in which the engine is mounted above the midway position in the gap between the main planes, and the pilot is seated much lower down than heretofore. It will be remembered that a report has been circulated around New York, as mentioned in last week's FLIGHT, that Louis Paulhan, who is at present engaged in an action with the Wright Brothers, has ordered one of these machines to be delivered to him next month. • • . In contrast to the success that E. F. Driver and C. Compton Paterson have already attained in Cape Town, comes the very unwelcome news that the latter well-known pilot met with what might have been a serious accident while giving an exhibition on his biplane at the cycle track at Green Point on Tuesday afternoon last. According to reports the elevator jammed while he was at a height of about 40 ft. and, losing control of his elevation, he was forced to land somewhat abruptly, with disastrous results to his machine. Paterson was taken away to the hospital where his injuries were found to be nothing more serious than several nasty bruises. • • • As an indication of the public belief in the aeroplane as a sporting and commercial vehicle of the future, it is interesting to notice that at a meeting of the London County Council some time since, a question was asked of the Chairman of the Establishment Committee whether, in view of the fact that the new County Hall would not be completed until four years hence, his Committee would consider the advisability of equipping the roof of that building as a landing ground and garage for the use of aviating members. His reply was to the effect that at present he considered the river a much safer landing spot but should the science of aviation have advanced by that time to make such a provision desirable, the proposition would doubtless receive every consideration. • • • In order that they may more fully centre their attention on the production of the celebrated Indian motor cycles, the Ilendes Manufacturing Co. have decided to abandon the manufacture of the rotary aero motor which has been under a practical test at the hands of Grahame-White in the States. " OISEAU BLEU." ® ® A Compendium of Aviation and Aerostations. IN the opening chapter of this little book, Col. Hoernes says that its purpose is to place before the reader a simple elementary picture, briefly sketched, of the main principles of aerostation and aviation. The book is one intended for the general reader, who will find that he is not bothered by any obtuse theories or fierce mathematics, although the "How, Why, and Wherefore" is explained sufficiently for the novice to get an intelligent idea of how the different parts work. The book is illustrated by 1 very large number of photographs, although they are, in nearly every case, of old machines, and it is rather surprising to find newer and more successful machines not represented. The book, which is of a handy pocket size, is published by Messrs. Chas. Griffin and Co.,. at is. bd. nett. All About Airships. THE title of this book is somewhat of a misnomer, as the author, Mr. Ralph Simmonds, does not restrict himself to dirigible balloons, but deals also with kites and gliders, and more than half the book is taken up with aeroplanes. Being written for boys, the story of the early attempts at navigating the air, and the subsequent development after success had been attained is told in what one might term an adventurous spirit, and any boy who finds it among his presents is pretty sure to appreciate it. As, after reading this, many boys would wish to try a little flying for themselves, it was a happy thought on the part of the author to include a short chapter on " How to build a simple monoplane," together with the necessary diagrams. The book is well illustrated by a large number of photo graphs, all excellently reproduced, which add considerably to its- value. It is published by Messrs. Cassell and Co., at the price of 6s. 1139
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
