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Aviation History
1912
1912 - 0489.PDF
machine was fitted with two chain-driven wooden propellers re volving in opposite directions. On the 17th December, 1903, they succeeded in making four free flights from level ground against the wind, and the first announcement in England of their success appeared in the Auto, of December 26th, 1903. In 1904 many more successful flights were made, and in 1905 they improved the control of their machine, and generally produced a model that they were satisfied they could introduce to the public. Never courting newspaper notoriety, and reserved of manner except to his intimate friends, Wilbur Wright was not disposed to advertise either himself or his work, and the general public con sequently knew little of what had been accomplished, and was inclined to regard many of the statements made on the subject with the scepticism appropriate to rumour. This doubt was enhanced, moreover, by the fact that a long period ensued, during which nothing was heard of Wilbur Wright and his brother beyond an occasional mention that they were in negotiation with various authorities for the sale of their patent rights. When Henry Farman won the first Grand Prix three years later, by flying a circular kilometre, the world perforce hailed it as the greatest thing that had yet been done, because so far as the world at large was concerned, that was the first circular flight that mankind had "officially" observed. Three years previously, Wilbur Wright had already flown distances exceeding twenty miles in length, and when in 1908, he also went to France and showed what he could do with the machine that had for so long been idle in its crate, the world at last no longer doubted his attainments in the past. In the history of aviation there has been no greater man than Wilbur Wright. Endowed with great physical energy and keen mental activity, his qualities as a practical investigator were rendered ideal by a temperamental reserve and caution that enabled him to minimise the very real danger of his work without once sacrificing the scientific issue to the dictates of personal safety. He worked equally well with his brain and with his hands ; he left nothing to chance, and down to the minutest details he saw to every thing himself. Night after night he would sleep in his aeroplane shed so that he might be personally responsible for everything that was done from the earliest to the latest hours of his long working day. To have achieved such an epoch making accomplishment as learning to fly, in a remote spot far away from observation, and without the usual accompaniment of the Press, may, according to modern ideas, have been somewhat of an anti-climax, but the merit of the result remains. Moreover, Wilbur Wright had never withheld the results of his work from his fellow men, and those who talked so much of the secrecy and mystery of the Wrights ignored the fact that Wilbur Wright adopted the accepted practice of scientists by reading two papers before the Western Society of American Engineers. These papers, the second of which was read in 1903, were seemingly forgotten by many students of aviation ere (lie first officially-recorded flight took place in France. Notwithstanding the veil that leaves his first conquest dim in the public eye, however, Wilbur Wright nevertheless began to fly in France at the psychological moment. By his achievements there, he gave to others working in his own field the greatest gift of all— confidence in their own ability to succeed. Of all stories of mundane progress, there is none perhaps quite so fascinating or romantic as that which tells of Wilbur Wright's first flying days in France. There you have an incredulous public watching with ever changing mien the steady but none the less graduated unfolding of his art by a past master. Wilbur Wright, with his characteristic caution flew first a little and then a little more; he cared nothing for the spectators, and thought neither of startling them nor of mystifying them. Seeing the flights of a beginner executed with the precision of an expert, the crowd knew not what to believe ; they could only wait and watch. And so, in full view before the eyes of the world, did Wilbur Wright re-conquer the air—and who shall say that this belated, but still spontaneous recognition of his triumph did not, after all, accomplish most in the long run for the future of flying. ® ® ® ® TKe Rof/al £Iero Clu of the limited Kirsgdoi im OFFICIAL NOTICES TO MEMBERS ®EI Balloon Race at Hurlingham. THE Point-to-Point Race for the cup presented by Mr. John Dunville, will take place at the Hurlingham Club, Fulham, S.W., on Wednesday, June 12th, 1912. Members desiring to compete are requested to advise the secretary not later than 12 o'clock noon on Saturday, June 8th, 1912. Entrance fee 10s. The rules governing the competition can be obtained from the secretary. Members of the Royal Aero Club will be admitted to the Hurlingham Club free, on presentation of their Royal Aero Club membership cards. Ascent in the Club Balloon. The Club Balloon will make a private ascent from Hurlingham on Saturday, June 8th. Members wishing to make an ascent are requested to send in their names to the Secretary together with a remittance for £4 4s. Seats in the Balloon will be allotted accord ing to priority of application. Presentation to Library. Messrs. Claude Grahame-White and Harry Harper have very kindly presented to the Library a copy of their book " The Aero plane in War." 166, Piccadilly. HAROLD E. PERRIN, Secretary. AERONAUTICAL SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN. OFFICIAL NOTICES AS SUPPLIED BY THE SECRETARY. Meetings.—Mr. Holt Thomas's lecture will be held, by kind permission, in the Committee Room of the Royal Automobile Club instead of at the Royal United Service Institution as previously announced. June 12th, Wednesday, 8.30 p.m. G. Holt Thomas on " Hydro aeroplanes," illustrated by cinematograph. Members are requested to note that under the rules they are per mitted to introduce visitors at general meetings. Informal Meetings.—Informal meetings for the discussion of set subjects are held at the Society's Offices, II, Adam Street, ® ® A Strike of Aviators. SOME little excitement was caused in German Aviation circles by the announcement that in the middle of the Johannisthal flying week the pilots intended to strike unless the employers promised to pay a minimum wage of ^15 a month. It was stated that some pilots are only paid half this sum. Adelphi, on Mondays from 5 p.m. June 3rd, " The Handicapping of Aeroplanes." Election of Student.—The following has been elected a Student of this Society : F. E. Nancarrow. Society's History.—An illustrated history of the Society has been prepared and is being circulated to all members. The Council hope that members will assist them in their efforts to increase the membership and funds of the Society by purchasing copies for dis tribution, or by forwarding donations to the Secretary to defray the cost of the effective circulation of copies. T. O'B. HUBBARD, Secretary. ® ® Hydro-Aeroplanes for Liege. THE continental towns are recognising the value of hydro aeroplane displays, and aviators who have amphibious machines are not likely to want for engagements. Liege announces a competition for June 26th and 27th, at which it is hoped Paulhan and Barra will be present, as well as a couple of Belgian exponents of the art. 489
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