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Aviation History
1912
1912 - 1163.PDF
DECEMBER 14, 1912. [fyGHT) LIKE Charley s Aunt, the week-end meetings at Hendon are still running, even though the " homes " are perhaps not quite so well filled now as on previous occasions. On Saturday last the weather was decidedly dull ; there was a gustv wind and the clouds were lying very low. The first event of the day was the usual week-end Brooklands' trip, with a passenger, of the Handley Page mono plane. This time the journey was made from Brooklands to Hendon, as the monoplane had not returned home alter its eventful journey the week before. Owing to the mist, which at times completely obscured the view of the ground, it was most difficult to keep a straight course, in fact—as Mr. Handley Page put it—the journey was made up of a series of " figure eight,." They managed to find Hendon, however, and landed quite safely about 18 minutes after they left Brooklands. No flights were made m the afternoon with this machine, as some repairs had to be made to the tail skid. At about 3 o'clock Louis Noel went out on the 80-h.p. Henry Farman biplane, and flew over the surrounding country, lust before he landed, Marcel Desoutter ascended on the 50-h.p. Gnome-Bleriot, and remained aloft for about 11 mins. One could see by the way the machine rocked about that the wind was far from pleasant. While Desoutter was still up, M. D. Manton put up a seven-minute flight on the 50-h.p. Grahame While 'bus, finishing up with a very good landing—about half-a-minute after Desoutter. Without stopping the engine, Manton changed places with R. T. Gates, who made a short flight acioss the ground and back. In the meanwhile Sydney Pickle* got away on the 35-h.p. Anzani-Caudron biplane, the little machine climbing in a wonderful manner. Noel then took up a passenger on the 8oh.p. Farman, making a flight of about 4 mins. Sydney Pickles landed imme diately after Noel, having been up for 10 min=., and as he landed Manton again went up on the Grahame White 'bus. He was up for about 12 mins., reaching a height well above 500 ft. At time*, when against the wind, the biplane appeared to make but little progress, and would then shoot forward a little, showing the gusty nature of the wind. So nasty was it, in fact, that Mrs. Stocks, who in the meantime had climbed into Desoutter's Bleriot, very FLYING AT HENDON. wisely decided—after a short flight across the ground—to remain below. Shortly before 4 o'clock three machines ascended one after the other, the 80-h.p. Henry Farman with Noel and a passenger up ; the 35-h.p. Caudron biplane piloted by Sydney Pickles, and the Bleriot with Desoutter in charge. Noel and Desoutter re mained up for about five or six minutes each, but Sydney Pickles was going for nearly 15 minutes, climbing nearly all the time. A few minutes before he landed, Noel was up again in the " eighty " with a pas;enger, after which Manton wound up the proceedings of the day with a four-minute flight on the 'bus. Altogether, just u dozen flights were made during the afternoon. Another dozen flights were gat through the following Sunday afternoon, which, in the early part, was inclined to be rather showery. The first two flights were made by the Handley Page monoplane, the former of these being made in the rain. A passenger was carried each time, and two other passenger flights were made later in the afternoon. One of the passengers taken up was A. J. Plant, the St. Peter of the Aerodrome, who, after having seen many hundreds of flights, was given his first impression of what it feels like to make one. Manton made two flights on the Grahame-White 'bus, as did K. T. Gates. Manton—who, by-the- way, has wisely invested in a Warren helmet—finished up his first flight with a very good spiral vol plane'. Louis Noel made three semi-cross-country flights on the 80 h.p, Henry Farman, the first by himself, and the second and third with a passenger. The writer was fortunate enou;;h to be the latter passenger and particularly noticed how puffy it was at about 100 ft. from the ground, whereas at above 600 ft. the bip'ane was quite steady. It was just twilight when this flight was made, and it was an extremely fascinating tight to observe twinkling lights appearing in the diminutive noutei below. Marcel Desoutter experienced a new — to him — sedation during the afternoon ; while miking a flight on thr Bleriot, he passed right beyond the clouds into- brilliant sunshine ! He was, he said, very struck with the action of the wind and picturesque effect of the bank of clouds below him. ® ® ® ® GERMANY'S DIRIGIBLE FLEET.—A. side view ot the Hansa at Halberstadt, clearly showing the two cars, and, towards the further end, the big passenger salcon which is capable of accommodating some thirty occupants. 1163
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