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Aviation History
1912
1912 - 0730.PDF
FROM THE BRITISH FLYING GROUNDS. Royal Aero Club Eastchurch Flying Ground. THE past week has, without doubt, been the worst yet experienced this summer, the weather being far more like mid winter, heavy gales and rain predominating ; consequently very little work has been done outside the sheds. On Thursday, Commander Samson on the Short monoplane, Lieut. Grey, 70- h. p. Tractor, Lieut. Briggs, and Private Edmunds all put in some useful flying during the two hours that was available. On Friday, the new Admiralty Breguet arrived in its crate, and is awaiting the Breguet pilot to put it through its necessary tests. Commander Samson, Lieuts. Grey, Malone, and Briggs were flying during the evening. Early on Saturday morning, Lieut. Briggs and Mr. Jezzi were out, but found the fog more than pleasant, and so waited until later in the day before attempting further flights; about 10.30 Lieut. Grey with Lieut. Briggs as passenger prepared for a start to Dymchurch, but finding the air very " dunty" delayed the start until the evening, when Lieut. Grey made the journey. Lieut. Gregory took out the school biplane 34, and put in some good work around the island at a height of some 800 ft. On Sunday, the weather was again unbearable, and no flying was done. On Monday evening, the Henry Farman with new 80-h.p. Gnome engine arrived from France en route for Hendon with M. Noel piloting. Tuesday again treated us to a 40-mile wind, and consequently up to time of writing nothing had been done.l Brooklands Aerodrome. MONDAY and Tuesday last week were two useless days from a flyer's point of view, owing to there blowing a continual gale. Wednesday morning slight wind, but school work continued in earnest. At the Bristol School Mr. Merriam was out early taking up in rotation Major Ashmore, Capt. Brabazon, Mr. Summerfield, and Mr. Gould, the other pupils staying in bed, possibly thinking the weather too bad. Mr. Bettington, Mr. Pickles and Mr. Merriam all flying straights upon the Anzani monoplane, Lieut. Arthur and Mr. Hotchkisf flying well upon the 50-h.p. monoplane, the former flying to 4,000 ft. Sopwith's School were out very early and Major Trenches was sent away for his brevet which he took in excellent style. At Vickers No. 5 machine was out in the hands of Capt. Beatty. Wednesday night and Thursday morning there was a gale blowing and no flying in consequence. Thursday evening wind had dropped considerably. Mr. Hotchkiss brought out a new 70-h.p. 2-seater monoplane to be put through its A trio of Bristol School pupils at Brooklands who have just taken their brevets—Mr. Holyoake, Major Higgins, and Capt. Macdonald. tests before being handed over to a foreign Government. Mr. Hotchkiss first tried it solus, and finding it all right, took up a foreign officer, who was to observe its flying abilities. The first test was to rise 1,000 ft. in 5 mins., with a weight of 225 kilogs. on board, and Mr. Hotchkiss started oft with 248 kilogs. up, and rose to I,OOOft. in. 4 mins., and 2,000 ft. in 7§ mins. Flying at that height for 10 mins., the engine was completely shut off and a long, straight vol plane made to ground. Engine again started, and Mr. Hotchkiss again rose to 20 metres and shut off engine and landed, then up to 50 metres and shut off engine and landed, then straight away up to 2,000 ft., again under 8 mins., flying at that height for another 10 mins., then landing with another long straight vol plant. On the Saturday morning Mr. Hotchkiss went away again on the 70-h.p. monoplane to finish off its tests with a flight of ij hours. With the same officer in the passenger seat the machine rose quickly out of Brooklands and at once got lost in the fog. Mr. Hotchkiss circled round for some time in the hopes of picking up Brooklands again, but being unable to do so, steered off in the direction of the Thames which was picked up at Windsor. Then he made a mistake and followed the river's course the wrong way as far as Maidenhead, at which town, noticing the mistake, he circled round and again ran into fog and lost the river. Flying by the course of the sun he then found the reservoirs at Staines and mistook them for the reservoirs at Richmond, and again went the wrong direction until High Wj combe was reached where, after flying for an hour and twenty minutes, never dropping below 2,000 ft., Mr. Hotchkiss made a landing on the top of a hill, to find out where they had got to. After breakfast the wind got up too much to allow them to make a fresh start, so Mr. Hotchkiss decided to postpone the start till the evening. At Brooklands much good flying was put up on the Friday evening. Lieut. Arthur, Messrs. England, Pickles, Barnwell and Lindsay Campbell were all flying the Bristol 2-seater monoplane in very good style. Prince Cantacuzene was on the Anzani monoplane and so was Mr. Cheesman. At the Vickers School Mr. Knight was flying circuits on No. 5 machine for about 20 mins. Capt. Stott, a new pupil, was out on No. 4 taxying, when he amused everyone present by standing the machine on her nose in front of the sheds, breaking propeller and skid. The Martin Handasyde with Antoinette engine was out flying for some 20 mins. with Mr. Bell on board. Capt. Beatty was out on No. 5 Vickers to try the weather conditions. Did two straights and found it too " puffy." A little later, the wind having moderated, Capt. Beatty again went out to test the machine and then handed it over to Knight, who was up for 45 minutes, doing wide circuits over the surrounding country about 600 ft. up, and putting up an exceedingly good performance. Capt. Beatty then took over the machine and put in a lot of good circuits. Saturday morning, a lovely morning for flying, saw the Bristol School out in full force. Mr. Merriam was out first to try conditions, then away with many of the pupils. After Mr. Hotchkiss went away on the 70-h.p. monoplane, Lieut. Arthur took up the 50-h.p. monoplane and found everything perfect, so then let Mr. England fly solos on same machine. Mr. Lindsay Campbell then went next on same machine, and when over Byfleet, met with the most regrettable fatal accident chronicled elsewhere. Saturday evening and Sunday and Monday morning a gale blowing continually. The cross-country race advertised for Monday evening was also cancelled through weather, but later in the evening a fairly large crowd saw Mr. Merriam, who carried a passenger, fly a couple of circuits. Mr. Pashley then came out on the Sommer for a couple of circuits, and Mr. Hotchkiss also flew a circuit just before the rain set in. Farnborough (R.F.C.) TUESDAY evening last week, Major Burke out on BE 1 in very strong wind, making good landings. Wednesday morning early, Major Moss 10 mins. flight on Henry Farman, Major Burke several flights on BE 1, Mr. de Havilland on BE 4, later out on BE 3, testing machine after being rebuilt, a very gusty wind blowing all the time. Towards evening, Thursday, wind dropped considerably, Major Burke on BE 1, Capt. Mackworth on BE 4, several good flights, Mr. de Havilland on Breguel B 3, Major Moss and Capt. Reynolds several good flights on Henry Farman, Adjutant B. Kennett several flights on 70-h.p. Nieuport; all machines very busy, and in the air at the same time. Also airship " Gamma" several nights. Friday morning early, Major Moss and Capt. Reynolds on Henry Farman, Major Burke on BE I, Capt. Mackworth on BE 4, all flying well and carrying passengers. Mr. de Havilland on Breguet B 3 doing some very good flying, later same pilot out on factory experimental 'bus, testing Maxim gun machine, quite steady when firing gun. Airship " Gamma" several flights. Adjutant B. Kennett left for Salisbury on 70-h.p. Nieuport, making good time ; all machines out again in the evening. Lieut. Fox, who can fly any 73©
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