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Aviation History
1912
1912 - 1113.PDF
passed the tests for his certificate in fine style, observed by Capt. Dickson and Capt. Conner. Flying was impossible in the evening, the weather being far too boisterous. i On Wednesday the wind was blowing quite a small gale all day, and no attempts were made at flying. England was out quite early on Thursday, giving three tuition trips to Mr. Tower, a new Bristol recruit. Weather too bad for further flying. England went for test in one of the tandem mono planes, but found wind very strong, then went up with Lieut. Reea. Prince Cantacuzene made a very fine flight on the tandem machine. England taking Lieut. Rees tor a trip on another machine, and they made a trial on a biplane, this completing the evening's work. On Fiiday England tested conditions on monoplane, then took Mr. Tower on a biplane later with Lieut. Parvelescu on side-by-side machine. Capt. Penfold was out for a good solo on biplane, whilst Lieut. Negrescu took a side-by-side monoplane and had a fine trip, landing quite well. Capt. Penfold was again out for a biplane solo, this finishing the morning's work. Wind was much too strong in the evening and school work was not attempted. On Saturday, Pizey ascended first on one of the tandem machines, and flew over to U pa von with a box of stores for the Central Flying School. Busteed was out in one of the 80 h p. monoplanes, with Prince Cantacuzene as passenger. Fizey made a test of a new engine, but wind too strong for further flying. Busteed was out for a flight Sunday morning, but no other trips were made the wind being quite strong. Prince Cantacuzene went for a really fine solo in the afternoon on one of the tandem machines, his landing being quite good in the strong and puffy wind, which was much too bad for school work. Royal Flying Corps.—In consequence of the unsettled weather there is little outdoor work to record, although a good deal of work has been carried on in the hangars, overhauling the various machines. The first flying was on Thursday when Major Higgins was out on biplane 203, and after doing several circuits handed the machine over to Capt. Fox who made one or two trips on it. These same officers, with Lieut. Ashton, also had this biplane out on the following day and did some scouting. On Friday morning Major Higgins was on biplane 203 with Lieut. Potter and flew over to Farnborough. They arrived back again during the afternoon during a shower of rain and landed safely after a sharp dive. Capt. Fox took charge and made several circuits of the Plain. Lieut. Smith- Barry flew over from Upavon on biplane 204 and landed by a fine spiral vol plani from a height of 1,200 ft. He returned after only a short stay. On Saturday morning Lieut. Porter left for Farn borough by motor and flew back on Maurice Farman biplane 216. He reported having a somewhat rough journey amongst the clouds. Upavon (Central Flying Schcol). Monday morning last week opened fine, with later slight rain for half an hour or so. Capt. Fulton ventured out during a shower on Avro 406. Sidbury Hill, which is usually visible in anything like clear weather, was lost to view in the low lying mist wreaths all the morning. The mist lay very thick along the Avon valley, and the machines were lost to view frequently. However, afternoon conditions were ideal for flying. Petty Officer Andrews was on Avro 404, practising figures of eight for his certificate. Capt. Fulton, his instructor, and Lieut. Hubbard were observers on behalf of the R.Ae.C. Andrews, after 30 minutes' flying in good style, won his brevet with great credit both to himself and Capt. Fulton, under whose able tuition he had been for a short while only. Capt. Fulton also took another naval man out for instruction, Leading Seaman Bateman, and was out with him about 40 mins. Avro biplane 406 was fairly hard worked during the day, being taken out no fewer than thirteen times altogether. Capt. Fulton was out twice for short spins round the aerodrome. Lieut. Hubbard took the machine out for three flights of 15 mins. each. Lieut. Martyn was also on the same machine for three flights, also Lieut. Young. Capt. Salmond took it twice for spins of about ten minutes' duration. The British-built Maurice Farman was out four times during the •day. Lieut. Cholmondeley took up a passenger for ten minutes and made a very good flight, and Lieut. Longmore, R.N., was also out for a turn round the aerodrome. Two fine long flights of 50 mins. and 60 mins. respectively were put up on the same machine by Lieut. Freeman, R.N., and Lieut. Courtney, the latter officer flying for a full hour. Fine flights were done on the Maurice Farman 403. Lieut. Abercromby, Major Ashmore and Major Trenchard taking the machine out for about 15 mins. each, and Lieut. Freeman was -out for a spin lasting about 10 mins. A fine flight of 20 mins. on the same machine was performed by Lieut. Winfield Smith. Lieut. Shepherd went out on the Short tractor 413 no fewer than seven times on Monday, six times alone and once for a spin with Air Mechanic Copper, lasting about 5 mins. Capt. Risk also went twice on the same machine—once for a very short turn round the aerodrome, and the second time keeping up about 20 mins. or more. The small biplane Henry Faiman, 412— which was originally at Farnborough, and was sent over to the Central Flying School in sections, where it was reconstructed— seems to handle well, and is a fairly fast machine. Major Gerrard went out in it alone for a few minutes, afterwards returning and taking up Chief Mechanic Scott, R.N., for a flight lasting about 6 mins. The same officer afterwards went out twice again, each time taking Lieut. Shepherd, R.N., as passenger. Lieut. Lushington and Lieut. Longmore, R.N., also made a couple of good flights each on the same machine, and Lieut. Smith-Barry was also on it for about 12 mins. round the aerodrome. The Short biplane, 401, was out a good few times. This type of machine appears to be rather on the substantial side, and is without a doubt strongly constructed, which accounts for its somewhat heavy appearance. It has a good turn of speed notwithstanding, but its climbing powers have not l>een fully tested. Capt. Risk took up Leading Seaman Brady for a couple of instructional flights, afterwards going out for about 10 mins. with Gunner Allen R.M.A., as passenger. Lieut. Pepper, Lieut. Allen, Lieut. Atkinson and Lieut. Lushington each took the machine for flights round the aerodrome, averaging about 12 niins. a trip. Lieut. Hartree. with Capt. O'Niell as passenger, was out about 20 mins., and made a very good flight. Major Gerrard then took Leading Seaman Prichett four times for instruction and Lieut. Shepherd, R.N., went for a shoit spin on this same machine. Pizey, the well-known aviator, came over to the Central Flying School on a Bristol mono plane, with an officer of the Indian Army as passenger. The Bristol monoplane is of rather striking appearance and very fast. It appeared as a mere speck on the horizon one minute and a minute or so afterwards Pizey made a good landing in front of the hangars. This machine also rises from the ground very rapidly and easily. Tuesday morning was very dull with a fresh northerly wind blowing across the aerodrome, which made it exceedingly bumpy for those who ventured out. Major Gerrard was out on Short 401 taking up Leading Seaman Brady for a quarter of an hour. Lieut. Lushington made three trips on the same machine each averaging about 12 mins. One could notice how alert the different pilots were while mamevring in the fresh wind. Capt. Risk took Leading Seaman Brady for three trips on 401. The little Henry Farman was also out ; Major Gerrard and Lieut. Shepherd, R.N., each going up for about 6 mins'. flying. Avro 406 was not out at all, but the Avro biplane 404 was out half a dozen times, Capt. Salmond, Lieut. Youni;, nnd Lieut. Martyn each going up for about M. Richet, the pilot who was flying the new Breguet at Hendon Aerodrome. -.••-:•.. . . .. II 13
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