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Aviation History
1912
1912 - 0392.PDF
FROM THE BRITISH FLYING GROUNDS. Brooklands Aerodrome. DURING the past week April has apparently been under the mistaken impression that it was March, for while showers have been totally absent a strong nor'easter has been putting in a lot of over time, and a nor'-easter at Brooklands manages to twist itself into the most marvellous gust-i and eddies after passing over the encircling hills. On Wednesday, the 24th, flying was quite out of the question, and on Thursday the only machine out was the Bristol biplane, on which Pizey and Fleming were instructing their pupils, Dawes and Shcppard, in getting oti and landing, it being too windy for the pupils to be out for solos. 1'riday was slightly better towards evening, when Moorhouse brought out his Bieriot-type monoplane, intending to fly over to Ilendon. After a few circuits of the aerodrome to get altitude he came down again, finding it impossible to distinguish land marks through the smoke haze drifting down the Thames valley from London. Pizey and Fleming were out soon after on a Bristol biplane, but found it very choppy, and later Prier brought out a two-seater Bristol monoplane for its first trial. On his second circuit, when at a height of about 100 ft., and well out over the sewage farm, the engine suddenly stopped through the switch wire short-circuiting, and he was forced to make a landing in the sewage farm. The ground was very soft, and after running a few yards the wheels and skids sunk in, turning the machine completely over. Prier remained inside, escaping unhurt. The fuselage was intact, but the wheel base and one plane were rather badly broken. Next morning was too windy for school work, the only person to venture out being Lieut. Porte on the racing Deperdussin, who flew for about ten minutes. Later on, "Partridge" brought out the Hanriot, now fitted with an A.B.C. motor, and made a number of straight flights. The wind was very bad, once tilting him over when turning on the ground, so that a wing-tip touched earth, but without ^loing any damage. The little monoplane seemed to fly very strongly with its new motor, leaving the ground, tail well up, at about half-throttle. In the afternoon a " quick get-off" handicap was arranged by the Brooklands Aero Club, which has just been formed. Despite the bad weather there were ten starters, namely :- T. O. M. Sopwith W. Moorhouse... H. Petre G. Sabelli Duigan C. L. Pashley ... H. Fleming C. P. Pizey ... F. P. Raynham T. O. M. Sopwith Miss Dorothy Prentice attending to the motor of the machine In which she practises at Hendon Aerodrome. 70-h.p. Gnome-Bleriot monoplane. 50-h.p. Moorhouse-Radley monoplane. 35-h.p. Deperdussin monoplane. 35-h.p. Deperdussin monoplane. 35-h.p. Avro biplane. 40-h.p. Humber monoplane. 50-h.p. Bristol biplane. 50-h.p. Bristol biplane. 60-h.p. Howard-Wright biplane. 60-h.p. Ho ward-Wright biplane. Fleming proved the winner, getting off in 5i sees, and receiving 1 sec. handicap. Pizey was second, 4- sec. slower, and Sabelli and Sopwith tied for third place. This tie was flown off, Sabelli securing third place. Moorhouse's engine was missing badly, so that he did not get off well, but once up he gave an excellent display. When landing he came down in front of Sabelli, who was just getting off, the latter saved a collision by a splendidly executed banked turn. Sopwith gave an exhibition on his Bleriot, but other wise there was not much flying. The next day, Sunday, was very windy, but to amuse the crowd another quick get-off handicap was organised. Only four starters turned up, Sopwith being the winner on his Howard-Wright biplane, with P'leming second and Sabelli third. Moorhouse gave an exhibition flight, at times making hardly any headway against the wind. On Monday last there was a short period of comparative calm in the early morning, when Col. Hotchkiss on Vickers and Cadet Robin-on on the Deperdussin both put in some rolling. On Tuesday, " Partridge " was out again on the Hanriot, reaching an altitude of about 120 ft. and flying well for some time. P'leming gave Sheppard tuition on the Bristol, and Robinson was again out on the Deperdussin. In the evening it became comparatively calm. The first out was Col. Hotchkiss on Vickers, rolling. Vickers No. 4 was also making straight flights, piloted by Macdonald. Sabelli on the racing Deperdussin made a long flight at about 1,000 ft., coming down with a very steep vol plan,!. " Partridge " on the Hanriot also made a good long flight, finally coming down because his hand got tired working the pressure bulb. Raynham gave some tuition on theold Howard-Wright biplane, known as the " Family Tank," and C. L. Pashley flew several circuits on his Humber. Parke tried the totally enclosed Avro-monoplane for the first time, finding it difficult to keep her on the ground as the engine will not run very slowly. Earlier in the day, Duigan had put up a good flight on his Avro biplane. During the week two new tractor biplanes arrived. The first was the Coventry ordnance maciiine, designed by W. O. Manning and built by Howard T. Wright. This machine simply bristles with original points. The fuselage is very wide, carrying pilot and passenger side by side, the backs of the seats being streamlined off somewhat as in a Breguet. The motor, a ioo-h.p, Gnome, drives a geared down tractor through a 2 to 1 chain reduction gear. What strikes one most at first sight is the large gap between the two planes and the large extensions fitted to the top plane. The wheel base is very simple, the axle bearing the two wheels being unsprung, tyres of very large diameter absorbing the shock. The second arrival was an Avro of much the same type as the military two-seater, but fitted with a Gnome engine. This machine is the first of those built to the order of the War Office. Liverpool Aviation School (Waterloo, near Liverpool). ON Wednesday, the 24th, Hardman was out on the Anzani- Uleriot in a strong wind, and succeeded in making two nice flights of about 300 yards each. Birch also out and rolled well. Next day fenwick, of Planes, Ltd., arrived in the morning from Fresh- field, via the air, and returned aft era short interval, thereby winning a champagne dinner promised by Mr. Melly on the first occasion he crossed the K.ver Alt. In the evening, Hardman was making short »Zt if m a Str°Dg eaSt Wind- Birch also P«t in some practice, rolling. * Saturday morning, Hardman had more practice at short straight rimes'5 '" a ' and BirCh succeeded 'n Ieavi"g the ground five On Sunday morning notwithstanding a nasty east wind, Hardman was aga.n doing straights, and Birch made several successful hopT In the evening, on Tuesday, in perfect weather, Hardman made several straight fl.ghts of over half a mile, finishing with a complete half circle, keeping the machine in the air for 80 sees. Birch made a series of successful hops, some of which were over 100 yards in 392
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