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Aviation History
1912
1912 - 0421.PDF
MAY n, 1912. AIR EDDIES. MANY of our British pilots have told me how they admire the lines of the new Hanriot monoplane, and how they would like an oppor tunity of flying it. Mr. S. V. Sippe, back from experimenting with •Commander Swann's hydro-biplane at Barrow, has, however, had all the luck so far, for on Monday last he left London for Rheims where he is going to try his hand on this most promising monoplane. 'Juke a strange coincidence ! Just when F.wen, after flying across the Channel on his Caudron monoplane, reached land again, a terrific gust caught him and blew his map, which he had in his hand, away. He continued on for a minute or two, and then, failing to recognise the railway track or the high road that would lead him Londonwards, he chose a likely looking field, circled round it twice, and landed. He waited a moment or two, still sitting in the pilot's seat, watching a group of two or three people who were running to meet him. Something lying on the ground about ten yards away in their direction caught his eye. He left his seat and picked it up. It was his map. • • » By the way, it is rather interesting to recall that although Anzani motors have done excellent work elsewhere, they have not figured as much as would have been expected, considering that the first cross-Channel flight was accomplished with an engine of this make, in cross-Channel honours. Since Louis Bleriot's historical flight, an Anzani motor had not served for a Channel crossing until Ewen brought over the little Caudron monoplane on Thursday of last week. The engine that lie used was, curiously enough, the first of a new type—a 45-h.p. six-cylinder radial engine—that the works are now turning out. By its performance it looks like being a very popular engine too. * • * A rather tunny thing happened at Hendon the other day. A military correspondent of one of our big dailies made arrangements to have a passenger flight in order to get a first-hand experience of the use of an aeroplane for observation purposes. He was given a most suitable flight, quite high and quite long, in fact he went all round the Welsh Harp waters and over the Edgware Road, where he could observe to his heart's content. When the flight concluded by a, to him, most breathless vol plant, his first words were, " Ye gods, wasn't it cold up there. But where the deuce have ive been .' " I hinted some time since that before long we should see Renaux flying over here. But he has not yet come, and I am beginning to wonder if the fact that he has been pulling in on an average ^200 a day from hydro-aero passengers, has influenced him in delaying his visit. *• • • Up to the present no fewer than Si officers of His Majesty's forcer- have qualified for their tickets. In this connection the Bristol School have a perfect right to feel very pleased with themselves, for they have graduated no less than 50 of this number. \fH9E Second May Meeting at Hendon. TO-DAY (Saturday) at the London Aerodrome, Hendon, com mencing at 3.30 p.m., a fine programme is to be got through. Whatever the weather, visitors are not likely to be disappointed under present conditions of flying. There are always pilots not only ready to give an exhibition of skilful control, but anxious to demonstrate the reliability of up-to-date machines. A Cross-country Team Handicap, an Altitude Contest, and a Grand Speed Handicap are the " set" items for the day, but with decent climatic conditions the air throughout the afternoon is hardly ever clear of one or more machines. Mr. Grahame-White deserves well of the public for having instituted this illuminating series of flight meetings at the London Aerodrome which is so convenient to the metropolis. Windermere's "Water Hen." OK May 3rd, The Lakes Flying Co.'s new machine, the " Water Hen," wzi flying very successfully. Of the seven trips it took, the shortest must have been a couple of miles, and the longest well over ten miles. Five times a passenger accompanied the pilot. The lake was quite calm and the machine never once failed to rise at the first attempt with the greatest ease, in spite of the increased weight. No hitch or breakage of any kind occurred. The Royal Flying Corps are going under canvas on Wednesday next, the 15th, at Lark Hill, on Salisbury Plain, before taking up their abode at their new headquarters at I'pavon. These will lie ready, I am told, in about seven weeks' time. • • • Mr. George M. Dyott has gone back to America—he sailed on Thursday last—undecided as to whether he will buy a two-seater Deperdussin or a two-seater Caudron. He would undoubtedly have remained longer on this side of the Atlantic had it not been for the clamourings of some fifteen of his pupils, who are waiting htm out yonder to be taught the gentle art. • • • That an aeroplane should come into use for deporting an exile is an application of the heavier-than-air macl\ine that—and no wondet —has hitherto escaped me. Vet such is the case, and in all prolta bility the exile will have flown, in two senses, from France «o WU country by the time you read these few lines. Nardini, an Italian flyer of the Deperdussin monoplane, who has done most of his flying in France, is the one who has incurred the displeasure of the French Government, and, being ordered to quit the country, he intends doing so and coming over to England by the airway on his monoplane. • • • Exactly what he has been doing to get into official bad book* I could not say, but someone who at least ought to be in the know, has assured me that it was liecause he advised the Italian Govern ment of the probable delivery of certain aeroplanes to the Turkish authorities. Miss Harriet ouimbv, who recently crossed the Channel by aero plane, is taking back w-ith her to America one of the new 70-h.p. Gnome-Bleriots with seats in tandem. Her machine underwent its first flying tests on Monday last at Etampes under the pilotship of Perreyon. Miss Ouimby is, by the way, a journalist by profession- she is the dramatic critic of Leslie's Weekly, one of the greatest of America's weeklies. There are vague rumours about that Lincoln Beachey, the well known American Curtiss pilot, is down south, at Pau, learning to operate a Bleriot monoplane. Throwing rice and old shoes at a newly-married couple from an aeroplane is a stunt, the origin of which one should naturally attri bute to some American brain. And quite appropriate too, for the fortunate husband was Lee Hammond, a well-known American pilot. The congratulatory emblems were discharged by Mrs. Beatty, passenger with her husband in a Wright biplane, and Miss Grivia, passenger with Reid, in a similar machine. But aviation loses something through the otherwise happy union. Hammond has promised to give up flying. " OISEAU BLEU." ® ® ® ® A Handicap at Brooklands on Whit Monday. IN connection with the motor car race meeting at Brooklands on Whit Monday, the 27th inst., the IJrooklands Automobile Racing Club announce that a cross-country handicap for aeroplanes will be held. The distance will be about 10 miles, and the entries close on May 15th. Prizes are, £j$ to the winner, ^30 to the second, and .£15 for the third, or cups may be taken at the option of the successful competitors. A New Green Engine. EMBODYING as it does a number of refinements and improve ments suggested by the experience of the last twelve months, the new All-British loo-h.p. Green engine with six cylinders will without question arouse keen interest when it makes its public debut. The Month's Work in the Bristol Schools. USEFUL work was done at the Bristol Schools at Brooklands and Salisbury Plain, and the whole of the ten pupils who qualified for Royal Aero Club Certificates were officers in H.M. Forces. Among them was Sir Alexander Bannerman, Commander Schwann, R.N., and Capt. Broke-Smith, R.E. From statistics compiled it appears that 579 flights were made during the month at the schools, giving an aggregate of 3,590 miles flown, a record which it is doubtful if many continental schools can equal. 421
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