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Aviation History
1912
1912 - 1215.PDF
DECEMBER 21, 1912. out and stopped. Swear I didn't even touch any of the gadgets. Took 'bus back to shed and as they started pulling engine to bits, cleared off home to write my people how glorious flying is. Learnt a good tip to-day. Must always call myself " Trelawney-Dinks " in future. "Dinks" is really'too commonplace a name to have when you can fly. Must get some cards done. Getting to look more like an aviator every day. Bought a white muffler, but took good care to use it to clean my motor bike with before I wore it. New mufflers look so painfully clean. 19th.—Fine day. Went aerodrome. Was told I— yes, me ! had broken something inside the engine. ^10 worth of damage done somehow. Naturally refused to pay as I hadn't touched the wretched thing—argued—paid. 20th.—Wet. Fed up with aviation. 21 st.—Windy.. Fed up with aviation. 22nd.—Wet. Fed up with aviation. 23rd.—Windy. Fed up with aviation. 24th.—Wet and windy. Fed up with aviation. 25th.—Windy and wet. Fed up with aviation. 26th.—Fine day at last—went aerodrome. They'd run out of castor oil. Served them jolly well right, thought I. Instructor explained they couldn't run the engine without castor oil (I always thought petrol made the thing go). Instructor, who seems to be getting quite attached to me, sympathetically asked me if I'd still got "cold feet." Naturally I explained that since I'd bought goloshes—and just here they all laughed for no apparent reason. No flying until oil comes. 27th.—Pretty good day but no flying as oil hasn't arrived. Had dinner at Maxim's with some of the leading flying men of the day. SUPPLEMENT TO IfilGHT "New mulflers look so painfully clean." 28th. Saw one of Shanthurt's pupils turn a 'bus right over. Took the trouble to fag over to the smash and teU him he ought to have (1) retarded spark lever (2) pushed barre de pied with left foot (3) pulled cloche (4) couped k contact. He didn't seem at all grateful, and I refrained from putting down what he said, because la) there was too much of it (/>) a lot of his expressions I'd never heard before (c) what I did recognise as having heard before I won't stick down for the same reason as previously suggested. At any rate, / know how to avoid a smash if he doesn't: Serves him right if he smashes up more machines. He ought to respect the advice of one who really duo know. 29th.—-Fine day again. Got out machine. Started raining—pushed it back again. Cleared up got out machine again. Rain came on once more. Took machine in again For the second time. Kept on raining for the rest of the day. This sort of tinny can't go on 'Am quite a hero at home." / people will soon begin to think I'm nol trying to learn to fly. Made instructor promise me first go on the machine in the morning. Wonder how long it will take to get over to Brooklands. Awfully jolly idea having a little fly round every morning before breakfast. My wor/J ' won't my people be jolly bucked. 30t»- * * * * [There is an ominous absence of entries from Msiy ui lill June isi ] June 2nd.—Still feeling very di<ky. Looking back over my diary 1 find thai on May 29th the tnstructoi promised me I could have the machine first on the follow ing morning. Have just gut a faint idea ol what occurred. I remembei starting off and (1) pulling lever, but must have pulled it the wrong way, for the 'bus went faster still. Then I (2) pushed left foot—or at least meant to do so. I suppose I must have tried to overdo it by pushing both. At any rate nothing seemed to happen and by that time I must have been going an easy 70 over the ground. Shut my eyes, not voluntarily, but owing to a big elot of castor oil catching me right on the nose—hard too. Had to do something as I was getting perilously near the fence. I (3) pulled the cloche as hard as I could. Through a hazy film of castor oil I saw the fence start disappearing into the earth. Realized 1 was off ground. Frightful shock. Must have (4) switched off, for barring an awful crunching noise 1 don't remembei much else. My people told me yesterday they picked me up in the next field, so 1 jolly well must have flown over that fence. That's proof positive enough that I can fly, at any rate. Don't think I shall trouble to fly any more. A lot of the interest seems to have gone, now that I know how to do it. Am quite a hero at home. Shall hate to have to take off these bandages because people are so kind and inquisitive and sympathetic. Pater's a bit out of sorts to day. Bill for smash came by post this morning. [Another ominous omission of entries.] 6th.—Have gone into the Pater's business.
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