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Aviation History
1912
1912 - 1058.PDF
FROM THE BRITISH Brooklands Aerodrome. ON Saturday last week, Mr. Petre, on the Martin-Handasyde monoplane, whilst finishing a magnificent spiral vol plant? made a miscalculation and had a fall, but was luckily unhurt, the only damage done being to the machine. In the Altitude Competition, owing to the gusty wind, only two competitors turned out, with the result that Mr. Barnwell, on the Vickers monoplane, secured the prize by attaining a height of 3,800 ft. Mr. Hawker also started on the Sopwith biplane, but omitted to start the barograph, and the exact height reached by him was not therefore recorded. The <c>uick Starling Competition, which was to have taken place on Sunday, had to be abandoned owing to the strong wind. On Saturday next, the l6:h inst., a Bomb Dropping and Alighting Competition will be held, in which the following will compete : — Mr. Hawker (Sopwith biplane), Mr. Merriam (Bristol biplane), Mr. Bendall (Bristol biplane), Mr. Pashley (Summer biplane), Mr. Spencer (Spencer biplane), Mr. Ducrocq (Farman biplane), Mr. Percival (Caudron biplane), Mr. Barnwell (Vickers-Farman biplane). On Sunday next an interesting Relay (Despatch Carrying) Competition will beheld. A pilot of a biplane will start off with the despatch, fly one lap, land, hand despatch to a pilot of a monoplane, who will also fly a lap, then alight, and hand despatch to judge, and the fastest pair (biplane and monoplane) will be the winners. The following is a list of the entries:—Mr. Barnwell (Vickers monoplane), Mr. Knight (Vickers monoplane), Mr. Raynham (Flanders monoplane), Mr. Petre (Martin-Handasyde monoplane), Mr. Ducrocq (Farman biplane), Mr. Spencer (Spencer biplane), Mr. Merriam (Bristol biplane), Mr. Bendall (Bristol biplane), Mr. Hawker (Sopwith biplane), Mr. Percival (Caudron biplane;, Mr. Pashley (Sommer biplane). Bristol School.—Wind was too bad for flying on Monday morning last week, but Merriam tested conditions in the afternoon, and then took Lieut. Empson for tuition. Bendall was up with Mr. Loyd, and then behind Lieut. McLean on straights. Merriam took out Mr. Loyd and Lieut. McLean. Major Forman, Lieuts. Kitson and Rodwell each out for good solos, Bendall finishing up evening with a solo. On Tuesday it was raining hard first thing, Merriam testing flying solo till arrival of pupils. Bendall took Mr. Loyd and Lieut. Kitson, latter ascending for solo afterwards. Merriam up for another flight, finishing up morning's work. Wind had increased by the evening, and flying was not attempted. After trial of conditions, by Merriam, on Wednesday, Bendall took Lieut. Empson, and Mr. Loyd was given a tuition flight by Merriam, the pupil taking charge of the controls. Major Forman and Lieuts. Kitson and Rodwell all out for two solos each, and Lieut. Rodwell then successfully passed the tests for his brevet in really first-class ftyle, keeping a good altitude throughout, and landing well. Merriam was busily occupied by Mr. Loyd, giving pupil instruction in landing and right-hand turns. At 10.30 Merriam again up for a test with Lieut. Kitson as passenger, flying high. Major Forman and L-'eut. Kitson both flew very fine solos, the latter describing several figures of eight. School work was resumed in the afternoon, Merriam flying with Lieut. Kitson, who then ascended alone, and flew remarkably well, doing left and right- hand turns with neat landing. Major Forman did well in the solo he made with figures of eight. On Thursday, a'ter Bendall had made the test, Major Forman and Lieut. Kitson both put up fine performances in the solos they made, and both these pupils should easily pass for their ticket. Merriam was up behind Lieut. Empson for several straights, who will now commence solo work. Major Forman went out for his brevet, and accomplished the tests very well, his landings being perfect. Later in the morning Merriam was out with Lieut. Empson, who was in the pilot's seat. Bendall took Mr. Loyd for a flight, but the wind was far too strong for any more school work. In the afternoon Merriarn was out for a test, but found weather unfavourable. Later out again with Lieut. Kitson, Bendall having Lieut. Empson as passenger. Lieut. Kitson made a good solo, but darkness prevented further work. Wind was very bad all day on Friday, and no ascents were made, work being confined to assembling machine just recently received from Filton. Saturday, good work was done in the morning. Merriam and Bendall being very busily occupied in taking the pupils up for tuition trips. Lieut. Kitson satisfactorily underwent the tests for his ticket, flying at a good height and with good landings. This makes the third pupil to qualify for his certificate this week at the Bristol NOVEMBER 16, 1912. FLYING GROUNDS. School at Brooklands, and certainly speaks well for the methods adopted in teaching pupils how to fly. Merriam out again in th- afternoon, but weather certainly not good. Later out with Mr. Featherstone but no improvement, and the only other trip was made by Mr. Merriam, who took Lieut. Kitson as passenger. Too windy for fl) ing all day Sunday. Howard-Fldnders School.—Raynham on Wednesday of last week was up for a quarter of an hour solo at about 1,000 ft., he afterwards taking up Dukinfield Jones for about 20 mins. over surrounding country. Thursday he steered away in Staines direction for half-houi's flight in morning. After lunch he made circuits, solo for quarter-hour, then took Jones for half-hour in Staines direction up to 2,000 ft. Circuits again for about 10 mins. solo in the evening. Next day he was flying for over an hour on F 4 No. I machine with new wheel-base, for official test, at Farnborough. This machine has now passed all its tests. Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday no flying—weather awful. Eastbourne Aerodrome. TUESDAY morning, last week, Mr. Hammond was on the Bristol giving instruction to Messrs. Thompson and Roberts, he also gave Gassier a joy ride and incidentally took him home to lunch, landing in a field at the back of Gassler's home. The afternoon turned out wet and prevented any further practice. Wednesday, the weather was perfect nearly the whole day, but as all the pupils were away, no work was put in. Mr. Fowler's Bleriot is in dock, undergoing a general overhaul. In the afternoon, Thursday, Messrs. Roberts and Thompson had their first experience of the pilot's seat, and with Mr. Hammond sitting behind they made several quite good flights, although at times their steering was somewhat erratic. To finish up the afternoon Mr. Hammond gave his wife a flight. There was quite a fair breeze all the early part of Friday, but by 3.30 p.m. it had gone down considerably. After making a solo, Mr. Hammond decided the conditions were not good enough for either Roberts or Thompson to take the pilot's seat, so he gave Roberts some landing instruction. By 4.15 the wind had freshened a good deal and put an end to any more flying. Saturday Mr. Hammond commenced work early, making several flights with Thompson in front. Roberts turned up later and made a short flight. The Bristol was pulling so well that Mr. Hammond thought he would like to try her with two passengers ; taking up Dowsett and Ford, two of the school mechanics, he made an excellent flight and succeeded in getting up to over 500 ft. Capt. Danvers had chartered the Bristol to take him over to Heathfield, Lieut. R. G. Murray, who, on a Bnstol biplane, has recently obtained his pilot's certificate at Fowler's school, Eastbourne.
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