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Aviation History
1912
1912 - 0561.PDF
JUNE 22, 1912. [/UGH?] IKe Rai/al l&ero Clu of the UixitecL Khygdoi -Jim OFFICIAL /NOTICES TO Committee Meeting. A MEETING of the Committee was held on Tuesday, the 18th inst., when there were present:—Prof. A. K. Huntington, in the Chair, Mr. G. B. Cockburn, Col. H. C. L. Holden, C.B., F.R.S., Mr. C. F. Pollock, Mr. A. Mortimer Singer, and the Secretary. New Members.—The following new Members were elected :— J. de Meray, Gustave Louis Fernand Gamier, Major F. D. Henslowe, C. Hubert, Capt. Mark Kerr, R.N., Lieut. W. S. E. Money, and Hugh Percy Nesham. Total membership to date : 1,381. Aviators' Certificates.—The following aviators' certificates were granted :— 232. Staff-Sergeant Richard H. V. Wilson, R.E. (Bristol biplane, Salisbury). 233. Lieut. Desmond L. Arthur (Bristol monoplane, Brooklands). 234. Lieut. Ercole Ercole (Bristol biplane, Salisbury). Subject to permission of Aero Club of Italy. 235. Paul Dubois (Deperdussin monoplane, Hendon). Subject to permission of Aero Club of France. 236. Capt. John H. W. Becke (Bristol biplane, Brooklands). 237. Norman S. Roupell (Howard Wright biplane, Hendon). 238. Edward H. Morriss (Howard Wright biplane, Hendon). 239. Capt. A. D. Carden, R.E. (Dunne biplane, Eastchurch). Public Safety and Accidents Investigation Committee.—On the motion of Col. H. C. L. Holden, seconded by Mr. A. Mortimer Singer, the following report of this Committee was unanimously adopted:— Meetings were held on the 5th and 17th June, 1912, when there were present:—Col. H. C. L. Holden, C.B., F.R.S., in the Chair, Mr. A. E. Berriman, Mr. G. B. Cockburn, Mr. J. H. Ledeboer, Mr. W. O. Manning, Mr. M. O'Gorman, Mr. Alec Ogilvie, Major- General R. M. Ruck, C.B., R.E., and the Secretary. SALISBURY ACCIDENT.—Report on the accident at Salisbury Plain on Sunday, May 19th, 1912, at about 7 p.m., when one spectator was killed and several injured :— Brief Description of the Accident.—Lieut. A. E. Burchardt- Ashton was flying on a Bristol Tractor biplane. It was the first time he had flown on this particular biplane or on any tractor biplane. The aircraft, on landing, ran into the spectators, killing one boy and injuring several other spectators. The aircraft then turned com pletely over. The aviator was unhurt. Lieut. A. E. Burchardt-Ashton was granted his Aviator's Certificate No. 201 on April 16th, 1912, by the Royal Aero Club. Report.—The Special Committee sat on the following dates :— May 28th, June 5th, and June 17th, 1912, and received the written reports of four eye witnesses, as well as the evidence given at the inquest, as reported by Mr. G. B. Cockburn, who attended the inquest on behalf of the Committee. Mr. G. B. Cockburn subsequently examined the engine and radiator, with a view to ascertaining how much their relative positions on the aircraft obscured >the view of the aviator. From the consideration of this evidence the Committee is of opinion that the following facts are clearly established :— 1. That the aviator was flying in the proper direction towards his shed and made his descent on the usual landing ground. 2. That owing to the size and position of the radiator the aviator did not see whether the ground directly in front of him was clear or not. 3. That the spectators were on the landing ground and were in the path of the aviator in landing, in imminent risk to themselves and the aviator. 4. That the aircraft first touched the ground at about 100 yards from the chains which run parallel to and are 25 yards in front of the sheds. The aircraft turned over when about 15 yards from the chains. 5. That the speed of the aircraft on touching the ground was approximately 50 miles per hour. A following wind of about 10 m.p.h. was blowing at the time. Opinion.—The Committee is of opinion : 1. That the aviator was not to blame for the accident. 2. That the accident was caused by the spectators being on the landing ground, on which they had encroached owing to the absence of proper control. 3. That the accident might not have occurred had the aviator's view ahead not been obstructed by the radiator. Recommendation.—The Committee recommends that this report be sent to the War Office, with the suggestion that such steps as may be considered necessary should be taken, in conjunction with the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, for the better control of the spectators in the vicinity of this flying ground, to avoid any recurrence of a similar accident. It was unanimously resolved that the report be forwarded to the Committee, with a recommendation that it be published in extenso. Petrol Committee.—Letter was read from the Royal Automobile Club of June 6th, 1912, inviting the Royal Aaro Club to nominate three delegates to serve on a Committee of Enquiry. It was resolved to nominate the chairman (Sir Charles D. Rose, Bart., M.P.), Prof. A. K. Huntington, and Sir Henry Norman, M.P. Point-to-Point Balloon Race.—The Committee examined the log sheets in connection with the Balloon Race from Hurlingham, on Wednesday, June 12th, 1912, and awarded the cup presented by Mr. John Dunville to Mr. A. Mortimer Singer. This race resulted in a very close finish, only 350 yards separating Mi. A. Mortimer Singer and Lieut. B. H. Barrington-Kennett. Wilbur Wright Memorial.—The question of a memorial to the late Mr. Wilbur Wright was considered and the following Sub- Committee was appointed to report to the Committee :—The Chairman (Sir Charles D. Rose, Bart., M.P.), Col. H. C. L. Holden, C.B., F.R.S., and Prof. A. K. Huntington. The following letter was read from the Aero Club of America :— Aero Club of America, 297, Madison Avenue, New York, May 31st, 1912. The Royal Aero Club of the United Kingdom. Gentlemen,—I am directed by the Board of Governors to express on behalf of the Club their appreciation of your sympathetic cable gram sent on the occasion of the death of our distinguished member, Mr. Wilbur Wright. This appreciation on your part of Mr. Wright's attainments is very gratifying to us. We feel that in Mr. Wright's death not only has America, but the entire world, suffered loss that is almost irreparable. Yours very truly, (Signed) WINTROP M. SOUTHWORTH, Assistant Secretary. Late Hon. C. S. Rolls and Mr. Cecil S. Grace. The Archbishop of Canterbury has kindly consented to unveil the stained glass window erected in the Church at Eastchurch in memory of the late Hon. C. S. Rolls and Mr. Cecil S. Grace. The ceremony will take place on Friday, July 26th, 1912, and the exact time will be announced later. Aerial Derby. Mr. T. O. M. Sopwith lodged a protest against his disqualification in the above race. The Stewards of the Meeting met on the 14th inst., and decided that they could not uphold the protest. Mr. Sopwith has now lodged with the Royal Aero Club an appeal against this decision, and the matter will be adjudicated upon by the Stewards of the Royal Aero Club, whose decision is final and without appeal. Balloon Contest at Hurlingham. The Long Distance Balloon Contest for the Challenge Cup pre sented by Mr. F. Hedges Butler will take place to-day (Saturday) from the Hurlingham Club, Fulham, S.W., at 3.30 p.m. The following are the entries in the order of start:— Competitor. Balloon. Pilot. 1. A. Mortimer Singer Planet, 80,000 c.f. ... A. Mortimer Singer 2. Gilbert Dennison ... Billie II, 28,000 c.f.... E. T. Willows 3. Mrs. John Dunville Banshee II, 80,000 c.f. C. F. Pollock 4. A. P. Hohler ... Esperance, 50,000 c.f. A. P. Hohler 5. Capt.E.M.Maitland Pompadour, 50,000c.f. Capt.E.M.Maitland Members of the Royal Aero Club will be admitted to the Hurlingham Club free, on presentation of their Royal Aero Club membership cards. Members of the Royal Aero Club can obtain special vouchers for the admission of their friends, who are not members of the Royal Aero Club, to Hurlingham, from the secretary of the Royal Aero Club. These vouchers will admit on payment at the entrance gates. 166, Piccadilly. HAROLD E. PERRIN, Secretary. 561
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