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Aviation History
1912
1912 - 0532.PDF
I/O^i Green-engined biplane, from Famborough, early in the afternoon, reported quite a deal of wind and remous in the upper reaches. Preceding the start of the Flying Derby, the speed handicap lor the silver trophy and cash prizes of ^100, presented by the proprietors of " Shell" motor spirit was run off. Had it not been that in the second of the heats Hamel gave up and Sopwitn came down before he had finished the course, this event would have been considerably more exciting than it proved. There were six entrants — Hamel, Turner, Verrier, Cody, .Sopwith and Kaynham, the latter two having flown over from Brooklands earlier in the day on their respective machines, a 70-h.p. two-seater Bleriot and an A.B.C.-engined Wright biplane. The race was decided in two heats of four laps, and a final of eight. In the first heat were Kaynham, Verrier, and Lewis Turner. All three flew the course exceptionally well, hugging the corners, and banking over at the turns as much as their machines would allow. Specially to be commended was Verrier. He handled his big- mammi Maurice Farman, and swung round the pylons as if he were flying a light and fast monoplane instead of a large weight-carrying biplane intended for severe military work. Raynham won ; he JUNE 15, 1912- the sulks on the occasion of the machine's first public appearance in Engand, for everyone likes the look of this neat little monoplane as much as hey have confidence in Sippe's piloting. A wave of the flag and he was off. At one minute intervals followed Sopwith 01 his 70-h.p. two-seater Bleriot, Hamel on an almost identical machine, Verrier on the Aircraft Co.'s 70-h.p. Maurice Farman biplane, Moorhouse on his 50-h.p. Radley-Moorhouse Maaru* Guillaux on a 45-h.p. Anzani-Caudron monoplane, and Valentine on his w-h.p. Bristol. , _ . . Two of them took passengers. Hamel took Miss Trehawke Davies, with whom he has flown so far and so often. Verrier took Mr. Ivor Castle, a photographer, who, besides his camera, operated the map and compass. Their adventures are given by Mr. Castle himself further on and form an interesting contribution to the events of this historical race. , *','"" Of the starts, that of Guillaux on the tiny Caudron, gave the best impression of speed. The machine just bounced along the ground and up into the air for all the world as if it were overjoyed at getting back to its proper element again. Verrier put his biplane to climbing and left the aerodrome at a considerable altitude. The THE FIRST AERIAL DERBY.—At Kempton Park turning point, showing Sopwith's Ble'riot passing round the big shaft at Kempton Park which marked the limit of the course. The congestion of traffic with sightseers watching the flyers, as seen in the photograph, was practically the same completely around the entire course. beat Turner by 35 sees., Verrier coming in third, just 6 sees, behind. The second heat was run between Cody, Haniel, and Sopwith. It was a gift to Cody for the reason explained above. Nevertheless, it was very exciting for the first round or two. Then came the final. Raynham triumphed again, for his superior speed showed up against Turner's old-pattern Farman-type. In the matter of course flying there was little to choose between them. He won by 53 sees. A delay ensued before the starting of the event that had created such widespread enthusiasm. Instead of getting away at a quarter past four, as was originally announced, the first competitor, Sippe, was not signalled to leave until 4.3S. As the machines were being brought up to the starling line a hush of suppressed excitement fell over the masses of onlookers. Everyone strained their necks to catch a glimpse of what passed there. Then an engine spit out its characteristic note. It was that of Sippe's new Hanriot monoplane, and by the sound of it and by the appearance leaving the ground one could easily tell that it was far from running satisfactorily. It was a great pity that its engine should get a tit of others kept much lower. All were soon out of sight and we settled down to wonder why there were not more starters out of an entry of sixteen. Cody was much missed. Everyone was disappointed that he did not line up with the others. The reason, we believe, of his not starting was that only having 60-h. p. on his biplane instead of his fond 120-h.p. he considered there was not enough chance against the Maurice Farman, the only biplane to start. As it happened, had he started he would undoubtedly have relieved the Grahame-White Company of the ^50 prize that they had offered for the first biplane home, provided it was not amongst the first three, for Cody could have been relied on to finish the course. Gordon Bell did not turn up, neither did Busteed on the Bristol monoplane. Lieut. Lawrence's Blackburn monoplane was not ready. Lewis not monoplane, Turner did not see much fun in making an attempt on the machine of the machine at his disposal. Jules Nardini intended flying over to the start from Dover, but was delayed on setting out until half-past five in the evening. Further, it was said that his machine—a Deperdussin— 532
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