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Aviation History
1912
1912 - 0344.PDF
\fm HT on to Abbeville, to strike the coast near Berck and to follow it to Calais, but as slight fog was experienced he thought it advisable to keep away from the coast line, and to maintain a course direct over land from Amiens to Calais. At Arrhes, ten miles from Ca'a,f' a descent was made at 9-45, to clean a sparking plug. So cold had the trip been that both were numbed ; Prevost was bleeding from the lips, and Mr. Santoni's moustache had frozen stiff. The descent was made in a corn-patch, scarcely ten yards wide. Crowds of peasants gathered round, and after everything had been put in order, some of the local talent was made use of to cling on to the tail of the machine, Mr, Santoni swung the propeller, quickly clambered into his seat, and a re-start was made at 10.45. A short circ e> meanwhile rising to about I.OOO ft., and the pair set out for Calais, where they landed at eleven o'clock. Prevost had arranged for his mechanic to meet him at the old European circuit aerodrome, but things had been so changed since, all the sheds having been taken down and the ground divided into various portions, that he could not recogmse Jt. After circling for some time in a vain endeavour to discover the missing aerodrome, a descent was made in a very narrow stretch of ground. . At Calais, M. Prevost and Mr. Santoni replenished their own vitality and that of the machine with food and petrol respec tively. In spite of a warning of a thick mist in the Channel, they decided to proceed, trusting to their Monodep compass to lead them aright, and p«*ibJy to be guided by catching a sight of the midday boat crossing Dover to Calais. A start was made at 12 0 clock, mi by the time the coast was reached the machine had attained a height of 2,000 ft., an altitude which it maintained throughout its trip over the water. The wind, which had caused some small amount of discomfort overland, entirely disappeared over the sea, and the machine maintained a plumb steady course. Whe APRIL 20, 1912. iu rh«r,np\ closed in all around by a wall of white half-way across the Channel, c*sed^ b a wonderi y ng if the course fog, and when M ; Santon. wa pro y 6 machine, a S^d^3 ws-^t- sseyy s Dover Harbour 'awa7 to gthe left. The land regained, the wmTwas agan felt! and the type of English wind was of T very noticeably different character from that encountered over FreTch soH Passing Canterbury to their left they caught sight o Sheppey i hnd and were soon heading over the strip of wa e,'hat divides it from the mainland. Here, as some of our Eastchurch Sis may well have expected, they came across a most malignant typof aiT-pocket, which caused the machine to drop with sSrtling suddenness, and to unseat both pilot and passenger. They landed before their fhed at 12.45. Commander Samson, Lieuts Longmore and Gregory, Mr. Frank McClean and the rest of The ^asfchurch pilot-sf with Mr. Harold! Pernn were there to greet them, and were no doubt surprised to find who the occupants were and from where they had come. Especially so was Lieut. Longmore, who had a difficulty in crediting that the machine he had seen descend was the identical one on which he had seen wing tests carried out in Pans two days previously. In Paris, witnessing the tests, he had anxiously enquired when he would get his machine delivered, and was rather uneasy at not seeing a packing case ready to receive it. Within two hours of the voyagers' arrival he himself was flying the machine over the Royal Aero Club'-, flying grounds taking up with him Lieut. Spencer Grey as passenger, and afterwards flying solos at a height of 3,500 feet for nearly an hour. THE ® ® ® ® AMERICAN FLIGHT CIRCUIT. (OFFICIALLY COMMUNICATED.; Tin; Aero Club of America, with the co-operation of the Aero Clubs of Illinois, Michigan, Milwaukee, Ka'nsas City, St. Louis, Indiana, Cincinnati, Ohio" is'organising an aeroplane circuit of 1,810 miles, which will be held in the month of August, and will be known as the (ireat American Circuit. Chicago will be the starting and finishing point of the circuit. The route proposed is Chicago, Milwaukee, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Omaha, St. Joseph, Kansas City, Jefferson City, St. Louis, Charleston, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Toledo, Detroit, Chicago. Stops will be made at each city, where there will be a " control " or station, and possibly at other cities situated along the route. The circuit is to be open to licensed pilots of all nationali ties, who will be free from injunction under the Wright patents. The prizes will probably amount to $100,000, and will include 1 Grand Prize of $25,000, second prize of $5,000, third prize $2,500. Among the prizes to be given are :— Prizes for first and second machines to reach each control. Special prize for American-built and flown machines first to arrive Special prizes for :— (a) Least horse-power to complete course. \l>) Passenger-carrying, (r) First to flash a wireless message to a control. of (c-i) Greatest number of wireless messages delivered. (d) Best maps made en route, and description of conditions, &c. (e) First aeroplane fitted with stabilizer to arrive. (/) Most completely equipped machine. This circuit should thus be greater than any of the circuits held last year in Europe, and will include features never before included in aerial contests. All the circuits last year were essentially races for speed between two points, and the prize went to the fastest. No effort was made to bring out the qualities of aeroplane other than speed. Thus while the splendid performances of Beaumont, Vedrines, Garros and other clever airmen created a great deal of enthusiasm and interest there was really little of practical value brought out that the world did not know or that would bring the aeroplane nearer to the average man for general use. In the great American circuit every inducement is given to bring out and demonstrate the practical side of aviation. Using less horse power, carrying passengers over a long distance, using wireless telegraphy for communicating from aeroplanes, using automatic stablizers and less human element, and having aeroplanes fitted with scientific instruments for travel and devices to promote .comfort—these are all practical features which, when applied, will make the aeroplane cheaper, safer, and a vehicle of service as well as pleasure. /e/o MILE j*M4 ,n. Lfc >**XST. JOSEPH 0*&**', s KANSAS CITYO--- "»""' MUVWUKEE 2*gff._ INOlANAPOUS^l 'CHARLESTON V*/mw*w sr. LOWS THE GREAT AMERICAN CIRCUIT.-Official map of the selected course. 344
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