FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1912
1912 - 0244.PDF
fS3 as passenger, to test a propeller, and then accompanied Merrian, who took him as passenger for a flight at 600 ft., the ex-pupil reflecting credit on his erstwhile instructor. Ouigan was tuning-up the Nieuport-chassis Avro biplane, rolling, and making short straight flights. Ducrocq was out for about 20 mins. across country over Chertsey. In the absence of Kemp, Fisher acted as head-pilot- instructor of the Flanders school, going for a good flight on the monoplane. Lark and Manning then made some straight flights. J- lying then stopped while " Partridge " took his brevet, which he did very well indeed, flying steadily at about 300 ft. Sabelli also flew circuits on the racer. On Tuesday Fleming was testing the Bristol monoplane in straight flights. Lane also made some short straights on same machine, and is improving. Lang went as passenger both with Fleming and with Merrian. Fleming then took Lark for a passenger trip. (Jill flying straights on the brevet Deperdussin had the misfortune to break both ends of his propeller on landing, but was doing well later when this was changed. Kemp and Fisher flew circuits, while Manning and Lark made straights on the Flanders. Major Bannerman also making straights on the Bristol, while Pashley did the same on the Humber- Bltriot. Eastbourne Aerodrome. ON Thursday last week the weather being more favourable, Lieut. Lawrence decided to start for Dover. However, fates were against him, as although the engine started at the first swing, it only ran for about half a minute and then petered out. Everything was gone through and found in perfect order, but beyond a few feeble explosions, nothing resulted. The magneto was tested and gave an excellent spark. After taking out the inlet valves, and cleaning them, no better result was obtained, so as a last resource it was decided to fry another magneto. This resulted in solving the mystery, the engine starting up first pull. Unfortunately, by this time it was too late for him to get off, so the attempt had to be given up. On Saturday some useful school work was put in, the afternoon being particularly fine. On Sunday afternoon, Lieut. Lawrence turned up and took his Blackburn out, but the engine seemed to have no pull in it and it was only with difficulty that he managed to keep the machine up at all. There is no doubt that he handles the machine well, his landing being graceful. On Monday the Blackburn was again out, but although a good deal, of time had been spent on the engine, it did not give any better results. Messrs. Gassier, Yates and Fowler were all out putting in some good work. During one of Mr. Fowler's flights his petrol pipe broke, necessitating a vol plant. Luckily he was not far away and just managed to get back into the aerodrome. Lieut. Lawrence has decided to have his engine taken right down, and has handed it over to the E.A.C.'s mechanics. London Aerodrome, Colliadale Avenue, Hendon. Grahame- White School.—The weather during the early part of last week was exceptionally trying, although all the pupils were well employed in the workshops both in theoretical and practical work. Most of Thursday was boisterous, the wind abating during the afternoon, Lewis Turner had Biplane No. 2 out for many circuits remaining for three quarters of an hour in a fairly moderate breeze. Biard was also up for half an hour doing circuits on Biplane No. 3, the wind suddenly increasing he was unable to continue. Friday saw the arrival from America of the two-seater Nieuport upon which Mr. Grahame-White had so much success and broke so many records in that country ; and although the weather was too boisterous all day for flying, the pupils were greatly interested in assisting the mechanics to assemble it. Lieut. Parke was a visitor to the school during the afternoon and inspected the new Grahame- White biplane. Weather was boisterous all Saturday and too rough altogether for the pupils, but Mr. Claude Grahame-White was out on the new Grahame-White biplane for its first test but the controls working stiffly and the wind being at some 20 miles an hour, after a circuit he had to descend ; the oil gauge glass being smashed ; with some minor alterations, however, the machine should put up some good flights. Sunday opened fine with hardly any wind whatever, and Lewis Turner was out very early on Biplane No. 2 making circuits, but had to descend owing to the engine running badly; after some slight adjustments, however, he was soon up again with a passenger who made some very interesting sketches of the aerodrome and sur rounding country from a height of 750 feet; later, up again with another passenger getting to an altitude of 1,000 feet, and, finding the engine running well, made an extended tour of the surrounding country ; after a rest, up again with more passengers, one of whom took many photographs whilst in the air. Mr. Biard also out on Biplane No. 3, doing excellent circuits at a height of about ,50 feet. Mr. Man ton was .alsp up with Mr. . Turner as paisetigei>i he hlin^j^riew pupil and Jus first experience MARCH 16, 1912. in the air. In the afternoon a great deal of flying was witnessed, Mr Grahame-White taking up Master Stanley Lewin for an extended flight on Biplane No. 2, after which the 70-h.p. Nieuport was brought out from its hangar and flown for the first time in England. After giving the machine a thorough test, and landing with a beautiful glide from 500 feet, Mr. Grahame-White took up his chief mechanic and started for Brooklands. Rising to the height of 500 feet in a half circuit of the aerodrome he was quickly lost to view in the direction of Ealing, but after an absence of ten minutes he was forced to return to the aerodrome, having run into a very dense bank of fog somewnere over Acton. After giving a magnificent exhibition of banking, he finished up his flight with a very fine glide into the centre of the aerodrome. Monday was a nice bright day, but wind very gusty ; Lewis Turner was up on Biplane No. 2 for a quarter of an hour's Spell, quickly followed by Fowler on the same machine, who did 20 minutes' circuits at a height of ICO feet, finishing with an excellent spiral. Biard out on Biplane No. 3 for a quarter of an hour, Manton also out rolling on Biplane No. 4, making some excellent straights, increasing wind, however, causing an adjournment to the works and no further flying was indulged in during the afternoon. A.S.L. Flying School.—Last Sunday was an ideal flying day. In the early morning Mr. Barber was very busy tuning up the " Viking " and seeing to the final adjustments ready for Captain E. B. Loraine's tuition, preparatory to his attempt for the Mortimer Singer prize. With engine in first-rate condition Captain Loraine set out at great speed, but unfortunately omitted to follow instructions, shut off his petrol supply and was unable to regulate it accurately again, consequently the machine ran slowly over very soft ground, and the wheels stuck in a filled-up ditch, and the machine stood on its nose, only a few wires were broken and the machine strained a bit ; the landing carriage and front skid standing up to their work nobly. A demonstration of how dangerous it is for pupils not to pay careful attention to their experienced instructors. By the afternoon the machine was ready for flight once more, when Mr. Barber was flying circuits in good style and also carried passengers for short flights. Monday was again a good day, and Ridley Prentice was out early on the Green-engined Valkyrie for trial flight, before handing over this machine to Greig, the latest pupil to join the school. He put in some good rolling practice, quickly getting accustomed to the controls. Tuesday opened calm, but very foggy, and it was not until nearly noon that it cleared off sufficiently to allow Ridley Prentice to fly the Green-Valkyrie. Greig then took control of this machine and showed good progress, doing short hops. Later Mr. Barber flew a circuit or two on the school machine, and then brought the Valkyrie racer, and gave a few passenger flights to Mr. G. D. Ferguson. In the afternoon Greig was busy on the school machine, and showed considerable progress, making excellent steady flights. Mr. Barber was out on the Valkyrie passenger machine, again taking up numerous passengers, among them were Messrs. Ferguson, North and Greig and Miss Prentice. A fine solo flight was made, during which an altitude of about 1,800 feet was made, and descent made by means of a perfect spiral vol plant. W. H. Ewen School.—During the past week there have been several good opportunities for school work and a great amount of practice has been got in by the pupils. On Thursday, Mr. Denys Ware greatly improved in his rolling, while Baumann and Dubois, who have shown a remarkable aptitude, each made several excellent flights. Mr. T. H. Apcar, of Eastbourne, joined the school. On Friday, all the pupils were again out doing some useful rolling and flying practice during a short spell of calm weather. The wind on Saturday was much too strong for outside work. Miss Dorothy E. Prentice joined the school, and is thus the first lady monoplanist in England. This makes the second new pupil at the school during the week. Nearly all day Sunday the weather proved to be ideal for flying, and, as usual, the pupils at the school were all hard at work. Mr. E. H. Lawford showed considerable progress on the Bleriot and Dubois, Baumann and Warren were all flying with confidence, each keeping the machine noticeably steady in the air, and making good landings. Capt. Loraine, up for a day or two from Salisbury, put up a very pretty flight of 15 minutes on the Deperdussin, his banked turns and vol plant from 250 ft. being admirable. During the day Ewen was out on the 28 Deperdussin several times, doing cross-country in two of his flights and putting up fine exhibitions with sharp turns and sensational spiral glides. Miss Dorothy Prentice quickly learned the controls of the Bleriot, and finished the school work for the day by rolling the machine back to the hangar. On Monday forenoon quite an amount of school work was got in. In the after noon the wind sprang up somewhat and, notwithstanding that Ewen tried the air and had rather a rocky journey, Capt. Loraine soon after took over-the 28 Dep. and niade a splendid flight in the 10-15 mile wind which was blowing.- All Tuesday morning the aerodrome
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
