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Aviation History
1912
1912 - 1141.PDF
England was again out in the afternoon first, on one of the tandem machines, and then on side-by-side with Lieuts. Parvelescu and Chiscaneanu. Lieut. Negrescu made a really fine solo on the side-by-side monoplane, his landing also being quite good. Lieut. Wall was up for the tests for his certificate, but unfortunately landed rather heavily after the first series, doing slight damage to the machine. Pizey was first out on Thursday on side-by-side machine with Lieuts. Parvelescu and Chiscaneanu, after which Lieut. Parvelescu went for his first solo followed by Lieut. Chiscaneanu. Both these officers trade exceedingly good flights and landed well. Lieut. ® ® QUESTIONS IN A REGULAR fusillade of questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday ot last week drew from the First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. Churchill, the important admission that the position of this nation as regards airships, at any rate, was inferior to that of Germany. The discussion was started by a question as to the reported visit of an airship to Sheerness, and Mr. Churchill repeated the information as to a noise being heard and the flares being lighted at Eastchurch on October 14th. They were lighted he said, that they might give assistance to aerial travellers in difficulties. He did not know whether the craft was an airship or an aeroplane, but he did know that it was not one of the Govern ment airships. No answer was returned to the question " Was it anything" ? or to another as to whether the sound of a motor was distinctly heard at the time, and lights seen which are not carried by aeroplanes. It was Mr. Eyres-Monsell who asked Mr. Churchill whether he proposed to use aeroplanes with a view of preventing an airship from proceeding to London or elsewhere, and what would be the relative position of Great Britain and Germany with regard to fighting airships (rigid) at the end of 1912, 1914 and 1915. also if it was the policy of the Admiralty to employ non-rigid airships for engaging rigid airships. Mr. Churchill replied that he was informed that Germany had the following rigid airships :—One Naval, one Military, two Passenger, and one Experimental. There was no doubt that in this branch of aeronautics Germany had won a great pre-eminence. As to the fighting value of such vessels, when compared to aeroplanes, opinions differ and experience is lacking. This also applied to the question of engaging rigid with non-rigid airships. He did not wish to make any statements at present on Admiralty policy, but the whole subject is receiving the attention which its undoubted importance demands. A question as to whether our dockyards and repairing docks were provided with searchlights and howitzers capable of repelling aerial night attacks drew from Mr. Churchill the reply that he could see no advantage in discussing such a subject, the importance of which was naturally recognised by the Admiralty. As to a comparison from the point of view of armament, equipment, speed, &c, of the ® ® Wintry Cross-Channel Trip. MR. J. B. MANIO'S crossing of the English Channel on his Bleriot monoplane on Sunday last was made under exceptionally trying conditions, and the pilot met with a full measure of adventure. Accompanied by his faithful wire-haired fox terrier, "Jim," who was made comfortable in a basket behind the pilot's seat, Mr. Manio left Boulogne at 12.55, intending to fly to Folkestone and then on to Hendon. A strong south-westerly wind which was blowing at the start, however, upset calculations, as the pilot found it increased in strength in mid-Channel. In consequence, he was carried off his course towards the North Sea, but after a time he turned and got over the land, eventually finding himself at Kingsgate, near Margate, where he landed at 2.35 p.m. Mr. Manio came on to London by- train, but hoped, if the weather was favourable, to fly his machine to Hendon. He started from Margate on Wednesday morning, but was brought down at Sittingbourne with motor trouble and slightly damaged his machine in landing in a ploughed field. Mr. Wilson Over Kilkenny. IN the course of a circular trip from his home, which is near Kilkenny, Mr. D. Corbett Wilson, on the 27th ult., piloted his machine round the city at a height of 1,000 ft. The flight aroused a good deal of enthusiasm in the city and immediate neighbourhood. A Progressive Education Committer. EVIDENTLY there are some open minded members on the Middlesex Education Committee, as they have approved of the boys who have an inclination towards aviation at the Fox Lane School at Southgate being formed into a class, and after ordinary school hours receiving practical instruction in the designing and building of model aeroplanes. The boys have the use of the school Negrescu out in the meantime in one of the tandem machines, making three flights 'reaching 800 ft. and landing extremely well with engine cut off. Pizey flew over to Upavon with a parcel tor the military authorities. Husteed went up for a test of the modified 50-h. p. Bristol monoplane and found the machine a splendid flyer. Sippe and Pizey both tried same machine, flying across to Fargo and back. On Friday the wind was far too strong for flying. Work of erecting new machine was busily carried on in the hangars. Wind still too bad on Saturday, and work was resumed in the hangars. Two machines were erected Friday and Saturday, all pupils taking part in this very useful instructional work. ® ® PARLIAMENT. latest British and German naval airships, Mr. Churchill suui it was not desirable to publish the details asked for of the latest British airships. It was sufficient to say that they were at present mainly in the experimental stage. The Admiralty had no official informa tion about the dimensions of the latest German naval airship. A rigid airship took alxmt eighteen months to construct. Further questions drew from the First Lord of the Admiralty, the admission that we had not an airship equivalent in size and power to a Zeppelin or one capable of travelling at 60 miles, although Mr. Churchill refused to be drawn as to the speed of the British airships. The discussion then turned to aeroplanes, and while Mr. Churchill thought it was not in the public interest to give information as to how many machines belonging to the Navy weie capable of a speed of 70 miles an hour he said we had many naval officers who could fly over sea or across country at speeds of 70 miles an hour and upwards. A question was then put to Col. Seely, Secretary for War and elicited the information that the Army had five aeroplanes which could fly at 70 miles per hour and fifteen more were on order which would be capable of similar speeds ; several of these were overdue from the contractors. There were twenty-six trained military pilots capable of flying these very fast machines. He also said it would not be in the interests of the country to state whether we had any guns capable of hitting an aircraft 6,000 ft. high. The Prime Minister was also questioned and said the Defence Committee had considered the effect of the development of aero planes and airships upon the defences of the country. As to whether we had a sufficient number of aircraft of both descriptions, Mr. Asquith said that the policy recommended by the Committee of Imperial Defence was explained by the Secretary for War on the introduction of the Army Estimates. That policy was I >eing carried into effect. The Air Committee, which was a permanent Sub- Committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence, of which the Secretary for War was Chairman, kept the question of aerial navigation constantly under review. ® ® workshop;, and are very keenly interested in the work. They have- already built over a dozen models, from which excellent results have been obtained. A Complete Model Aeroplane Catalogue. ONE of the most complete catalogues of materials and fittings for model aeroplanes if that just issued by Messrs. J. Bonn and Co., Ltd., 97, New Oxford Street, London, W.C., and we would advise all model aeroplanists to obtain a copy, for which a charge of twopence is made. A Change of Address. MESSRS. WHITEMAN AND MOSS, who are well known for the splendid assortment of fittings for aeroplanes, such as lugs, eye bolts, wire sttainers, &c, which they stock, have, in consequence of the increase of their business, been obliged to seek larger quarters, and are now settled at 15, Bateman Street, Queen Street, Soho, W., where they have ample room for a full display of their various specialities. An Album of Famous Aviators, AMOJ(G the many publications of Messrs. Burroughs, Wellcome and Co., of " Tabloid " fame, we should imagine one of the most popular would be a brochure, entitled " Famous Airmen and their Equipments." It is instructive to notice that practically all the leading aviators agree that their equipment is only complete when it includes a Tabloid " first aid " outfit. In the book in question there are a large number of portraits of the better-known pilofs, and a good many have given their opinion on these outfits. Apart from its interest, the book also has a useful side, as it contains a number of valuable hints on first aid, illustrated with diagrams, .Vc. Copie can be obtained from Messrs. Burroughs, Wellcome and Co., Snow Hill, London, E.C.
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