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Aviation History
1912
1912 - 0645.PDF
JULY 13, 1912. [/ijGHT] A few members of the Aldershot Model Aero Club, of which Mr. Cody is the President, during an afternoon's flying. Birmingham Aero Club (8, FREDERICK ROAD, EDGBASTON). CONTEST July_ 13th, at Unionist Demonstration, Hampstead. August Bank Holiday, additional model gliding competition. Entrance fee for whole competitions, non-members is., members free. Some good flying Saturday by Messrs. G. Wylde, V. L. Thompson, E. Trykle, L. West, P. Rogers, A. F. McManus, G. Haddon Wood; and Mr. G. Baker. Blackheath Aero Club (48, HAFTON ROAD, CATFORD, S.E.). TO-DAY (Saturday) at Seven Fields, Grove Park, K. and M.A.A. trials. Mr. Woollard meets visitors travelling from Charing Cross, and Mr. Dollittle those from Cannon Street. The former party will leave Charing Cross at 1.40, and meet the Cannon Street contingent on the 2 o'clock train to Hither Green. In both cases the meeting place will be under the clock in the station. A representative of club will meet competitors travelling by tram and road at the Fountain at Catford Tram Terminus, leaving there for the ground at 2.30 sharp. Trials start 3 o'clock sharp. Brighton and District (" KINGSLEIGH," KINGSWAY, HOVE). MR. BATE (rise-off-the-ground) got off in 8 ft., and flew for 38 sees. ; with another mode! he did 355 yards. Hydro-aeroplane competition, August Bank Holiday. Bristol Model Flying (3, ROYAL YORK CRESCENT, CLIFTON). JULY 6TH, good rising-from-ground flights, E. Martin. Duration, band- launched, 45 sees., R. T. Howse. Meeting to-day (13th) at Sea Walls, 3 p.m. July 17th, 7 p.m. Will those who wish to exhibit models at the Bristol and West Exhibition (Sept. 16th to Nov. oth) please communicate at once. Cardiff Aero Club (114, MISKIN STREET, CATHAYS). F. W. CROUCH elected secretary in place of E. W. Evans (retired). Club workshop given up temporarily, owing to outdoor work, and meetings with models Mondays at Cathays Park, 7 p.m., when secretary requests members to better the somewhat modest records, viz.:—F. W. Crouch, duration, 35 sees., May, 1912 ; W. Weeks, altitude, 50 ft., June, 10.12 ; K. W. Crouch, distance, 250 yards, May, 1912. F. Crouch flew large kite with string of flags over Municipal Buildings during King's visit. Coventry Aero Building Soc. (22, KINGSTON RD., EARLSDON). EXHIBITION of flying at Band of Hope Demonstration on July 6th, at Football Field, London Road, by Messrs, Cobb, Haselwood, Austin, Ryley, Collins, Rice, and King. Distance record up to date for Manville Cup, 353 yards, by R. A. Rice. Dover Model AeC. (" OAKVILLE." GODWYNK ROAD, DOVER). MEETING competition committee will be held 13th at 7.30 p.m. Special competition suggestions to secretary. Ealing and District (CUCKOO, HANWELL, W.). SATURDAY, the K. and M.A.A. held their two competitions at Greenford as mentioned elsewhere in this issue, in which Mr. Houlberg scored second place. Mr. R. S. Hall was elected secretary at Wednesday's general meeting. Note new address. East Ham and District (54, SAVAGE GARDENS, EAST HAM). HYDRO work last week-end by secretary. Bedford broke club record, 47 sees. (Fuming type). Flying as usual this week-end. Hackney and District (THE HOLLIES, JENNER ROAD, N.). OFFICIAL durations last Saturday :—Gittas, 55 sees., with 4 ft. triple-screw ; Marmin, 45 (o-i-i-Pz). Club open for inter-club contests. Next week pair of ro in. carved propellers will be offered for efficiency (duration formula;); small entrance fee for non-members. Paddington and Districts (77, SWINDERLY ROAD, WEMBLEY). RESULT of sealed handicap :—1st, Woolley (receives 24 sees.), 60 points ; 2nd, C. Chalfont (14 sees.), 58 points ; F. Lane (12 sees.), 53! points ; T. Carter (25 sees.), 51 ; W. Evans (22 sees.), 49'^; C. Levy (20 sees.), 47^ ; S. Wood (30 sees.), 46 ; C. Dutton (11 sees.), 44; M. Levy (22 sees.), 39 ; A. Canned (6 sees.), 37. The latter competitor afterwards put up some excellent flights of 78, 73, 64^, 59, and 58 sees. Mr. Woolley gained his second-class certificate with flight 700 ft., having previously obtained necessary duration. Flying to-day (Saturday) in fields top of Eagle Road, Wembley. Reigate. Redhill and District (4. LONDON ROAD, REIGATE). MR. J. L. SUTTON flying r.o.g. mono.,rising-oflf-grassin 8 ft.,average flights 120 yards, excellent landings; also 324 yards 31 sees, duration with 5 oz. hand- launched mono. Mr. H. Osborne, 217 yards with new 5I oz. mono. On Sunday Messrs. Morris and R. and M. Wilson gliding models off Buckland Hill, longest glide about 180 yards. Competition for Mann and Grimmer prize on July 13th. Scottish Ae.b. Model Aero Club (6, MCLELLAN STREET, GOVAN). ON Wednesday last week Mr. J. S. Gordon was out at Maxwell Pond with hydro-aeroplane. Using two Voisin floats in front and one " Flight " type in rear, the model rose easily from the surface every time. This is the first model in the club to rise from water using floats other than rubber tubing. On Thursday Messrs. J. Mills and J. C. Balden at Winton Drive, testing rising-from-ground models. Mr. J. C. Balden got off easily, doing 264 ft. and 26 sees, (club records for this class). Saturday duration competition was held at Paisley racecourse. Official results: Mr. W. G. Langlands 50J sees., Mr. C. F. Arthur 46 sees., Mr. J. S. Gordon 40! sees., Mr. J. C. Balden 32 sees. The club's new workshop is practically fixed up now, and should soon be in working order. The club's new year commences in September. Subscriptions : Seniors, 7s. td. ; Juniors under 17, 4s. per annum, Particulars from secretary, Mr. Wm. Foster, Rochelle, Limeside Avenue, Rutherglen. South Norwood (240, HOLMESDALE ROAD). MEMBERS flying, Messrs. Streeter, W. Hooker, Stemp. Streeter got 200 yards anda glide of 12 sees., with single-stick model. Competition next month for rise-off models. All models to be fitted with protectors. © ® ® ® CORRESPONDENCE. %* The name and address of the writer (not necessarily for fmblication) MUST in all cases accompany letters intended for insertion, or containing queries. Automatic v. Inherent Stability. [1594] With regard to letter 1592, it seems to me that there is no question at all as to " the desirability or otherwise of an arrange ment for providing an aeroplane with absolute automatic stability," and why one should have long " burned in the minds of all technicians and designers " f cannot understand. It is true I am not a technician, but Mr. Clarke is, and he takes the view that, stability being a desirable quality undisputably, automatic stability is still more desirable, because it saves trouble. The only question seems to be with regard to the device to confer it. " Absolute automatic stability"—or even ordinary workaday stability, for that matter, which would not lightly try issues with a hurricane—would undoubtedly be desirable, and it only remains for a device to be invented. Meanwhile, we have in the Dunne and Weiss types, machines which are as inherently stable as any aeroplane ever will be (I speak, of course, without reference to possible improvements in construction), and when the aforesaid device is introduced and put on to a machine of this type we shall have a combination producing something near absolute stability. But Mr. Clarke does not, for some reason not apparent, altogether approve of inherent stability. He says it would have " disadvantages in stormy weather," and that under those conditions the less inherent stability there is the easier is the control. He also says he does not oppose " inherent" stability machines, but if he really believed in the " disadvantages," I should think he would be quite willing to oppose them. Personally I cannot see that there is any logical difference between automatic stability and any other kind. It is a question of quantity. In stormy weather I should think the more stability the better, whether inherent or dependent on the pilot's skill. And how does Mr. Clarke think his view is evidenced by modern construction? Does he leave out of consideration the German and Austrian machines? It is true they all look very unscientific, but they are apparently feeling their way towards the Dunne and Weiss principles. The British War Office has, apparently, missed a splendid opportunity to cover itself with glory by developing the Dunne aeroplane. I say this as Wandsworth Common. A READER. [1595] With reference to article in June 29th issue, " Automatic versus Inherent Stability," by Mr. E. L. Ovington, I would wish to endorse the opinions there offered. As most people know, the only methods as yet tried 1 to maintain lateral stability are by the gyroscope and the pendulum. Both these methods are absolutely perfect in theory, " but" they are only mechanical contrivances, and no mechanical device is immune to failure. When it fails the pilot is helpless with an awful helplessness. If he had been in control he would most likely have been able to prevent an accident. What more perfect piece of mechanism is there than the human brain ? If that can fail, how much easier is it for a most complicated piece of steel, that works more by good luck than good guidance, to also fail. As we cannot put brains into a machine there is still need for man to do figure eights and the rest. However, if some means could be found of helping the pilot to maintain balance, though not such as would in any way impede him at a time of crisis, it would be better. I leave that question to some inventive genius to solve, and all praise to him if he unravels the mystery, as I hope he will. I personally, though I have had no practical experience in flying, would prefer a machine controlled by myself and only by myself. I will digress so far as to wish your excellent journal a most successful future as a reward for its good work. Farnborough. L. GILLMAN. 645
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