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Aviation History
1912
1912 - 0757.PDF
FROM THE BRITISH FLYING GROUNDS. Royal Aero Club Eastchurch Flying Ground. LAST week again started badly for flying, the weather con ditions being far from pleasant. It, however, wound up with better conditions, and the magnificent flight by Mr. McClean on his Short hydro-aeroplane to Westminster Bridge is referred to elsewhere. On Thursday morning Lieut. Spencer Grey arrived back on the 70-h.p. Short tractor from Dymchurch ; shortly after 9 a.m. the wind got up and put a stop to flying for the rest of the day. On Wednesday the new Admiralty Breguet was being assembled ready for the test flight by M. Moineau, who is at present at Salisbury, flying in the Army trials, so it may be several days before it is seen in flight. M. Noel attempted once or twice to start for Hendon on the 80-h. p. Farman on which he and Mr. Gates crossed the Channel; the conditions were, however, unfavourable, and a start was not made until 10.30 a.m. on the Monday following. Thursday saw the usual Admiralty machines and pilots out flying in the evening, including Lieut. Malone 100-h.p. triple tractor with Lieut. Briggs as passenger, Lieut. Spencer Grey on 70-h.p. Short tractor. The 90-h.p. Chenu motor of the Breguet was tested and found to be quite satisfactory ; it is to say the least of it pleasant to hear of a motor on an aeroplane that will run down to 200 revolu tions per minute when throttled down, and not always to be running either full out or not at all. The steel tubular struts of the Breguet are stream-lined with wooden strips clipped on the rear of same, and if Mr. Ogilvie's strut tests are of any value, it is certain the stream lines of the struts of this machine are useless. On Saturday Mr. Jezzi took out his tractor biplane and gave several passenger flights, also again on Sunday evening, and on one occasion the wind was blowing 30-35 m.p.h., but the little machine seemed quite equal to the occasion. Brooklands Aerodrome. BRISTOL School as busy as usual, and every morning and evening, except on Monday and Tuesday, when weather prevented, both Mr. Hotchkiss and Mr. Merriam were out carrying pupils. There are now 20 pupils at the school for tuition, and every day as many as 16 to 18 are to be seen on the ground. Every evening and morning, unless weather prevents, each pupil gets either two solo flights or two passenger flights, according to their advancement, and the rate of progress of each pupil is remarkable. This week Mr. Barnwell, Major Ashmore, Lieuts. Playfair, Wanklyn, Gould, Joubert and Capt. Miller have all branched into flying alone and all in less than three days have been successful in flying right and left- hand turns, and are capable of taking their brevets at any time, though most of them want to get more practice before doing so. Capt. Brabazon, Messrs. Summerfield and Darracq are all flying solus with much ability. Capt. BrabazomoniFriday night had the distinction of finding the sewerage farm through a petrol pipe breaking and motor stopping made it compulsory for him to land. Fortunately he made a perfect landing with no bad results to himself, but through the sinking of the wheels one strut on the machine broke. For three days this week the Bristol School put up about 180 flights with their 8 machines, and queer to say for an aviation school Mr. Hotchkiss and Mr. Merriam keep all their pupils contented and satisfied with the amount of flying they get. The Avro school machine, with Lieut. Parke up, was out Saturday and Sunday, and on the latter evening, after circling round the aerodrome, disappeared in the direction of Hendon, and we hear arrived safely there in half an hour. This is rather praiseworthy for an old warrior like the Avro machine, as it has done about as much, if not more, work than any machine in the country. The Vickers School have been usually busy. Capt. Stott making good progress, flying now straights in quite good style. Capt. Beatty, on Saturday and Sunday, was flying Vickers No. 5 in real good form, getting up well over 1,000 ft., and flying round the country out of sight of Brooklands. Mr. Knight was also out several times on the same machine, putting up a very good show. The Sopwith School have been doing good work, and Mr. Hedley took his brevet on the Farman biplane. He averaged very good time, taking 18 and 19 mins. for each five figures of eight, and his landings were of the very best, which shows that his tuition has been beyond reproach. Another pupil, who has only been there four days, was seen out solus flying, doing remarkably well. On Saturday evening a lot of flying was put up for spectacular purposes, for the benefit of many spectators who visited Brooklands. The Bristols were out in force in the hands of pupils and Mr. Hotchkiss and Mr. Merriam. The two Vickers machines in the hands of Capt. Beatty and Mr. Knight. The Avro machine with Lieut. Parke up. The 70-h.p. Bleriot of Mr. Sopwith's in the hands of Mr. Astley, who flew round at 1,000 ft. up for some considerable time. On Sunday evening the first machine out was Lieut. Parke on the Avro who entertained the spectators while they had tea. Then came Mr. Merriam on the Bristol monoplane who put up a good flight. After this a bomb-dropping competition and landing nearest the mark competition came on which brought out two Bristol biplanes with Mr. Hotckiss and Mr. Merriam up, Mr. Raynham on a Farman and Mr. Perry on the Sopwith Farman. Mr. Raynham went first, followed by Mr. Merriam, then Mr. Hotchkiss, and last Mr. Perry. Mr Hotchkiss for the third time won this competition with 13 ft. 6 ins. from the target. Mr. Merriam on another Bristol won the landing competition with 30 ft. from mark. There was a considerable amount of wind blowing which greatly handi capped the machines in the landing competition and made the distances rather poor. After the competitions Mr. Raynham brought out a new Flanders monoplane, a Government order, and after testing the engine put up an exhibition of flying, which gave one the impression that Mr. Raynham had been flying the machine for some time instead of testing its flying capabilities. The machine rose from the ground in fine style, and did not give the pilot a moment's trouble, which is an obvious recommendation for the way the Flanders machines are turned out. Capt. Beatty in the evening, on No. 5 Vickers, was over the sur rounding country, followed by Knight on the same machine with a small cross-country flight on his own over Chertsey, Addlcstone, and West Byfleet about 500 ft. up, finishing with a vol plans'. Both Knight and Capt. Beatty were at it again afterwards, the latter with right and left-hand turns. Later in the evening Mr. Hotchkiss held a free raffle for a pas senger flight on a Bristol biplane, which has become so popular amongst the spectators at Brooklands, and the lucky number 33 fell to Miss Dene, who greatly appreciated a couple of circuits of Brooklands at a height of about 300 ft. Farnborough (R.F.C.) TUESDAY evening last week Mr. De Havilland made a circuit on BE 3 but wind too strong for further flying. Wednesday, towards evening weather cleared up after raining all day. Capt. Mackworth on BE 4, Capt. Rayleigh on Breguet B 3, Major Moss on Henry Farman all flying well in gusty wind. Airship " Gamma " several flights over surrounding villages. Early Thursday Major Moss 15 mins. flight on Henry Farman. Airship "Gamma" out scouting practice. In evening Major Moss 20 mins. flight on Henry Farman, Major Burke on BE I, Capt. Mackworth on BE 4, Capt. Rayleigh on Breguet B 3 all flying well and out till dark. Mr. De Havilland flew to Salisbury on BE 3 in very gusty wind. Friday, Major Moss on H. Farman, Major Burke on BE 1, with Lieut. James as passenger, Capt. Mackworth on BE 4, Capt. Rayleigh on Breguet B3, and Airship " Gamma," with four passengers, left for Salisbury and arrived without incident, except Major Moss, who had to come down at Wootton owing to engine trouble. Airship " Gamma" arrived back in the afternoon. Major Burke started return journey, but had to come down at Crookham owing to lack of fuel. Capt. Rayleigh on Breguet B 3 arrived Saturday back from Salis bury, making good time. Major Burke arrived from Crookham The new Short twin-engined triple-tractor biplane. General view distinctly showing the position of the three tractor screws. 757
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