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Aviation History
1912
1912 - 0151.PDF
FEBRUARY 17, 1912. A.S.L. Flying School.—The very unsettled weather during the past week has prevented much flying, but Tuesday proved an ideal day for pupils. Ridley-Prentice made a trial flight on the School Green-Valkyrie terminating with a fine vol plane, before handing over the same machine to Mr. Busk, who put in a splendid afternoon's work. He made numerous flights the whole length of the aerodrome, attaining an altitude of 60 ft., his landings en vol plant becoming quite expert. Finally he successfully negotiated a half circuit, flying very well. Considering that Mr. Busk is only able to practice once a week he is really making most rapid progress, for after only four flying days he handles the machine in a masterly fashion. Bleriot School.—On Wednesday morning, 5 the first fine day last week, taking advantage of half-an-hour of comparatively calm weather, M. Pothet did a couple of straight lines very well indeed, and is certain to be doing circuits by next week intervening weather permitting. Mr. Morris made two straight lines in good style, and Mr. Hall was also out doing rolling practice. It was impossible Thursday and Friday to get through the least outside work, owing to the high wind prevailing, the pupils having to content themselves with theoretical work inside hangars. On Saturday afternoon the weather was quite good enough for all the pupils to put in a good spell of hard work. Mr. Parr took the bi-evet machine out for an " airing " and did three figures of eight at an altitude of about two hundred feet, landing with a vol plant in quite good style. Mr. Allen then took over the cloche and executed a brace of eights at about 150 feet, coming down with a masterly spiral vol plant, as though he had made a special study of this particular mode of descent. Mr. Prenssiel then gave a small exhi bition consisting of three circuits, landing with his usual vol p\ane which he is now succeeding in doing in perfect style. M. Salmet, the school instructor, then brought out his 50-h.p. Gnome Bleriot, with the object of trying a new and somewhat peculiarly shaped propeller on his machine, which appeared to be very efficient from the way the engine pulled him round several figures of eight, which he made at a low altitude and in a small space, showing the pupils with what ease and safety the machine could be banked at the turns. W. H. Ewen School.—During the past week there have been very few opportunities for the pupils to have much flying practice. In the interval, however, the 28 Deperdussin has been thoroughly overhauled. Saturday again saw the Bleriot and Deperdussin out, and the pupils of the school put in three hours' good practice. While Ewen was testing the Deperdussin, Dubois, Lawford Baumann and Warren were making good straights on the Bleriot, on which the school pilot had just made a flight. Capt. Loraine, who has now quite mastered the Bleriot and Deperdussin, put up some good flights, his last at Hendon before taking up his new duties at Salisbury. On Sunday the pupils waited eagerly to get some more practice in, but the wind continued too gusty all day for the school machines to be brought out. A notable visitor to the school, however, was Mdlle. La Pia, the famous danseuse, who was appearing last week at the Coliseum. Tuesday was a perfect flying day, and, although the pupils abstained from practice while brevet tests were on, a considerable amount of practice was got in. Baumann, Dubois, and Warren made great progress, and are getting well on the way for their certificate tests. During the morning and afternoon, Ewen made four nights on the school " Dep." Remaining in the air each time for about 20 mins., he carried out some very tricky performances, always finishing up with one of his long glides, which are now quite a feature of Ewen's flying. The first lady monoplanist in England is expected to join the school shortly. Salisbury Plain. Air Battalion.—Owing to bad weather and the prevalence of treacherous wind there is very little to report in the way of work in the air. On Wednesday and Thursday of last week there was no flying in progress although all concerned were busy in the hangars. Naturally, after this, the spell of fine weather on Friday was taken full advantage of, Capt. Fulton being the first to get into the air on one of the Bristol biplanes. He was followed by Lieuts. Conner and Reynolds, also on Bristol biplanes, and they all put in a lot of scouting practice round the Plains. Lieut. Barrington-Kennett was up on the Nieuport monoplane while Lieut. Hynes was testing the engine of his Breguet which has recently been overhauled. On Saturday Captain Fulton was again flying on the Bristol, and Lieut. Barrington-Kennett made a few tests with the Nieuport. There was nothing doing on Sunday, but Monday being a fair day for flying, Lieut. Barrington-Kennett started the work on his Nieuport monoplane following this up with a flight on the Bristol biplane. Lieuts. Reynolds and Conner were also using Bristol biplanes, the latter varying his height continually, the highest altitude reached being 1,000 ft. Capt. Loraine, who has been flying one of the Valkyries in splendid style, has arrived at the Plains. We are glad to hear that Lieut. Manisty, who was mentioned in our last issue as injured in a motor cyling accident, is making good progress. Bristol School.—A considerable amount of useful and instructive work has been done ai the Bristol school during the past week, on the few days on which flying has been possible. On Sunday Jullerot was up early for the usual trial, but decided that the con ditions were not favourable enough to permit of school work. How ever, as the morning wore on, the weather became much calmer, and, after a trial, Capt. Gilbert made two solo flights on No. 43 in creditable style, banking and landing by means of a vol plant'. Lieut. Ashton was also out for two solos, and showed evidence of the marked progress which he has made whilst at the school. Lieut. Bower, who has already taken his certificate at the school on the biplane, and who is now undergoing a course of instruction on the monoplane, was next away on No. 66, making a complete circuit, landing very neatly. Mr. Hotchkiss was out doing great things with Lieut. Roger Harrison as his passenger. Hotchkiss carried out some very clever right and left-hand turns, at times letting his passenger take charge of the controls, lie landed with a vol plant from a good height. Lieut. Bear then started out to p;iss the necessary tests for his certificate, but darkness prevented him completing the trials. The weather on Monday was, from an aviator's point of view, wretched, and all thought of school work had to be abandoned. However, as is usually the case at the " Bristol " school, instruc tional work was proceeded with in the hangars. Tuesday the weather was very little improvement upon that of the previous day, and the only flights made were two passenger ones, JuIIerot being the pilot. Terrific rain was experienced all da)- Wednesday, rendering out door work impossible. i*> The rain had not abated on the following morning, and yet another da)- had to be spent indoors working upon the machines. Towards evening, Jullerot brought out a biplane and made an ascent, but found the eddies much too strong for any sustained flying. Hotchkiss was out early on Friday morning testing the conditions, but after making two circuits it was decided to again abandon all thought of school flying, on account of the strong gusts which prevailed. Saturday morning saw Jullerot and Hotchkiss out making trials, and as they reported favourably upon the conditions, school work was started off in real earnest, Lieut. Head being very prominent with a flight lasting fully 20 mins. He completed several circuits, making fine right and left-hand turns, and eventually descended by means of a vol plain1. Lieut. Bower was out making a solo on. Lieut. Eric Mackay Murray, who secured his brevet at Salisbury on January 24th on a Bristol military extension biplane.
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