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Aviation History
1912
1912 - 0334.PDF
U.S. Post Office and Aviation. WHEN the estimates for the United States Post Office were published some gratification was expressed in American aeronautic circles at the inclusion of an item of $50,000 for aeronautic experi ments. The item has, however, been knocked out in committee, and there appears to be little likelihood of it being put back. Standard Oil Co., Denies Prize Rumour. AN official denial has now been issued by the Standard Oil Co., to the rumour that they are offering or intend to offer a prize of ,£5,000 for a new type of internal combustion engine or turbine especially suitable for aviation purposes. Aeroplanes as Contraband of War. IT is understood that the refusal of the U.S. Army Department to permit delivery of French aeroplanes to the Mexican rebels at El Paso, and treating them as contraband of war, has been approved by President Taft. A couple of Nieuport monoplanes were seized by the Italian Customs at Bellinzona Station last week on it leaking out that the machines were en route for Turkey. Fatal Accident to Rodg'rs. ALTHOUGH only scanty details are as yet to hand it would appear that the fatal accident to Galbraith Rodgers, who made a name for himself by flying across the United States from New York to California, was largely due to recklessness. He had been giving exhibition flights at Long Beach, California, on the 4th inst., and had been amusing himself by scattering a flock of gulls by diving into them. In the last dive the machine apparently failed to answer the controls and crashed to the beach 100 ft. below. The pilot had his neck broken and must have been killed instantly. The International Meet at Chicago. IN connection with the Gordon-Bennett race, which will probably be held at Winnetka, just outside Chicago, next August the Illinois Aero Club, which has the local arrangements in hand, proposes to hold a big meeting at its aerodrome at Cicero, 111. An endeavour is also being made to organise a cross-country circuit, to be held after the International race. The tentative route is from Chicago via Milwaukee, Omaha, Kansas City, St. Louis, Indianapolis, and so back to the starting point, a distance of about 1,800 miles. Between these various cities.it is hoped to raise a prize fund of £l5,000. US. Army has a Curtlss Machine. TESTS were carried out at Augusta, Ga., at the end of March with a Curtiss biplane built to meet the U.S. Army's requirements, as detailed in a recent issue of FLIGHT. It went through the endurance test easily with a flight of 2 hrs. 10 mins., and bettered the speed requirements by 2\ miles an hour. It was dismantled for transportation in 33 mins., and was re-assembled for flying in 55 mins. Carrying a load of 450 lbs. and fuel for four hours' flight, making a total weight of over 600 lbs., the machine climbed 1,000 ft. in 7 mins. The chassis proved capable of landing on and starting from soft, musty, and ploughed ground. The machine is, of course, fitted with a Curtiss dual control, enabling either occupant to take charge of it. ® ® ® ® Two Good Flights by Mr. Cody. ON the 3rd inst., Mr. Cody made a couple of good flights, in one of them carrying M. Bizion for a trip of ten miles, during which he dropped a number of handbills, advertising a charity concert. In the other Mr. Cody made a very fine circular flight, taking in Farnham, Alton, Guildford and Camberley. Memorials to the late Hon. C. S. Rolls. ON Sunday last, Lady Llangattock unveiled in Llangattock Church, near Monmouth, a marble memorial to her son, the Hon. C. S. Rolls, who was killed at Bournemouth on July 12th, 1910. Meantime the splendid lifelike statue, which has been designed by Mrs. Scott for erection on the sea-front, to commemorate the double crossing of the Channel by the Hon. C. S. Rolls, has arrived at Dover. British Government and Monoplane Construction. A QUESTION in the House of Commons as to the attitude of the British Government as to the recent order of the French War Office regarding flying on monoplanes, drew from Col. Seely the information that no special order had been issued by the British War Office but the necessary action was being taken. THE BERLIN AERONAUTIC EXHIBITION. WHEN the doors of the Aeronautical Exhibition at Berlin were opened on Wednesday o( last week, it was at once evident the great change which has come over Germany in the last year or so. At the Frankfort Exhibition in 1909, the lighter than air craft had matters all their own way, and aeroplanes were conspicuous by their absence, but at the present Berlin Show the aeroplane is in the ascendancy, and airships and balloons are represented by a few models and accessories. As was fitting, the Exhibition was opened by H.H. Prince Henry of Prussia, who is one of the few Royalties to hold a pilot aviator's licence. Prominent among the exhibits are several Albatross biplanes, which in general appearance are on Breguet lines with the wings arranged a la Etrich, while a number of Rumpler-Taube monoplanes, one of which is equipped with a completely enclosed cab for the pilot, somewhat in appearance like the new Avro military type, while another fitted with two propellers also attracted a good deal of notice. The Euler firm are represented by a couple of biplanes and a tripiane, the latter equipped with floats for use over water. The German Wright firm exhibit one of their latest biplanes fitted with a single propeller instead of two as is the usual practice. Of the distinctly German machines there are on view Aviatik biplanes, and also a biplane designed by Buchner and built by a new firm. As well as Harlan, Goedecker, Dorner, Haefelin and Garuda mono planes, the latter machine having curved wings. Prince Sigismund also shows his dragon fly monoplane. Altogether there are to be seen in the exhibition, which is being held in the Zoological Gardens, seventeen monoplanes, nine biplanes and one tripiane, besides, of course, a large collection of accessories and models, &c. ® ® ® ® AIRSHIP NEWS* The State of the British Dirigibles. COL. SEELY questioned in Parliament as to the present condition of the Army dirigibles and whether they could be sailed over London, said there were two airships available for service. They were provided with crews who could and do navigate them from time to time. They were capable of making extensive flights but they were fully engaged in training officers and men, and he did not think bringing them to London (so that the public might see them), was the best way to achieve that object. A Parseval Dirigible for Japan. ACCORDING to advices from Berlin, the Japanese Government has purchased the "Parseval XIII," which is now undergoing its trials at Bitterfeld. Long Voyages With "Capitalne Ferber." ON the 3rd inst., the dirigible " Capitaine Ferber" left Issy and was cruising over Paris for about an hour. On the following day it was out for two hours, this time passing over Melun, Fontainebleau, Coulommiers, Corbeil, and Longjumeau. Another long trip was made on Saturday last, this time to the west of Paris, the airship having a crew of ten persons on board. Two Zeppelins Meet at Mannheim. MANNHEIM had the privilege of seeing the two latest Zeppelin dirigibles cruising overhead on the 4th inst. The " Victoria Louise " with eight passengers Started from P'rankfort at a quarter past ten, and the "Schwaben" with nine passengers on board left Baden Baden at ten o'clock. The two airships met at Mannheim at ten minutes past ten, and after cruising over the city for half an hour they went off in the direction of Heidelberg. The " Victoria Louise " returned to Frankfort at half past one, and the " Schwaben" returned to Baden later in the day. Zeppelins for German Navy. FROM Berlin it is reported that the German Naval authorities are in negotiation with the Zeppelin Co. for the delivery within the next three years of five Zeppelin airships of improved " Schwaben " type. It is also stated that the designs of several battleships are to be altered to permit of them carrying a dirigible, while they are also to be fitted with platforms to permit of aeroplanes ascending from and descending on to them. ® ® ® ® U.S. Imports and Exports. DURING the last six months of 1911, thirteen aeroplanes, valued at $48,644, were imported, while sixteen machines, valued at $54,004, of American manufacture, were sent out of the United States. Two foreign-built machines, valued at $9,755, were ex ported, while there were ten machines in warehouse (in bond), their total value being $30,873. 334
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