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Aviation History
1912
1912 - 1218.PDF
things moved rather more, and at home Lieut. Barrington- Kennett flew 249 miles with a passenger, this being a world's record at the time. Unfortunately, the first British fatality of the year was recorded, Mr. Graham Gilmour being killed through the collapse of his machine while flying near Richmond. Considerable interest was aroused by the inclusion in the draft of the Army Estimates, issued during the month, of an appropriation of ^308,000 for the aerial services, though there was a good deal of criticism directed at the details of the proposed scheme. In France, the military estimates were put before Parliament and disclosed the fact that no less a sum than ,£880,000 was to be spent before the end of the year on aircraft, the plans providing for the construction of 15 dirigibles and the raising of the number of aeroplanes to be available by the end of the financial year to 344. Since then, other votes have been taken and the French expenditure has not been far short of a million sterling. In March the Government announced that it was intended to form a new flying corps, embracing members of both services and also civilian airmen who would be given military rank. This proposal has since resulted in the formation of the Royal Flying Corps as it exists now. In view of the comparative smallness of the sum to be devoted to military aviation under the Army Estimates, the hope had been expressed that a further sum would be asked for the service of the Navy when the Naval Estimates came before Parliament, but on their introduction it was found that this was not to be the case, and considerable disappointment was expressed by those whose view it was—and is—that this country should be at least as strong in the air as any of its possible enemies. Some notable flights were accom plished during the month. Salmet set up a new record in the attempt to fly from Hendon to Paris and back, in which he succeeded in reaching the French capital in record time and in ultimately flying back to Beckton, where he damaged his machine so badly in landing that he was not able to continue. Tabuteau flew from Pau to Paris in a single day, while Vedrines made himself famous by conducting an electioneering campaign by aeroplane when standing as a candidate for the French Chamber of Deputies—unsuccessfully, it may be noted. In France, the army authorities temporarily suspended the use of monoplanes by military airmen, in consequence of a report on the constructional weakness of the type by M. Bleriot. This temporary ban has since been removed. On this side of the Channel, the month was notable for the holding of the first Hendon meeting, which inaugu rated a remarkably successful series of competitions lasting throughout the year. The Royal Aero Club issued a set of suggested regulations for the prevention of collisions in the air, and also made public a set of rules for the conduct of open competitions. Mr. Roger Wallace, K.C., retired from the Chairmanship of the R.Ae.C, and was succeeded by Sir C. D. Rose, Bart. In April the first cross-Channel flight by a woman pilot was made by Miss Harriet Quimby, and the St. George's Channel was crossed by an aeroplane for the first time, Mr. Corbett Wilson being the pioneer. Mr. D. L. Allen lost his life in essaying a flight from Holyhead to Dublin in the same week that his friend Mr. Wilson succeeded in crossing from Fishguard to Enniscorthy. This month was interesting for the holding of the first review of military aviators and machines, M. Millerand, the French Minister of War, inspecting a detachment of no less than 26 fully equipped aeronautical units. 12 May was a notable month in British military aviation. His Majesty the King signalised his interest in the Navy by going to sea with the Home Fleet and during the course of the manoeuvres which took place, some impres sive exhibitions of flying were given by officers attached to the Naval Flying School at Eastchurch, the battleship " Hibernia " being equipped as a " mother-ship " for the hydro-aeroplanes employed. Later in the month the King and Queen again manifested their interest in flying by witnessing aerial manoeuvres at Aldershot by both aeroplanes and the small dirigibles which have been used in the Southern Command for experimental work. During the month the conditions for the War Office Trials of aeroplanes were issued, and, though subjected to criticism in detail, were in the main regarded as satis factory except in the smallness of the prize-money as compared with the large sums set aside by the French Government for similar purposes in 1911. The Daily Mail inaugurated an expansive scheme of aeroplane tours about the country with the object of arousing popular interest in flying. A number of airmen were retained and proceeded to various resorts, thereto give exhibitions of flight, and a good deal of interest was thereby created. The month brought to aviation an almost irreparable loss in the death of Mr. Wilbur Wright, who died from illness at his home in America. As the virtual pioneer of dynamic flight, his loss was keenly felt by all interested in the movement, irrespective of nationality. At home, the month was marred by yet another fatal accident, in which Mr. E. V. B. Fisher and Mr. Mason lost their lives while flying at Brook- lands. June was a busy month both at home and abroad. Many notable flights were made, particularly in France. The principal event contested was the race for the Grand Prix of the Aero Club de France, over a course known as the Anjou Circuit. This was won by Garros, on a Bleriot machine. Great Britain was represented by a single competitor, Mr. Gustav Hamel, who had bad luck and retired. At home, the " Aerial Derby," which took the form of a race round London for prizes given by the Daily Mail, aroused a great deal of popular interest, it being calculated that considerably more than a million people witnessed the race from various points of vantage around the outskirts of the Metropolis. Unfortunately, the race was the subject of protests, which caused a good deal of discussion. Ultimately, Mr. T. O. M. Sopwith was adjudged to be the winner. During the month another fatal accident was recorded to British flyers, Capt. Loraine and Staff-Sergt. Wilson being killed on Salisbury Plain while flying a Nieuport monoplane. In the politics of aviation June was a somewhat notable month. His Majesty the King graciously consented to become Patron of the Royal Aero Club. The Federation Aerienne Internationale held a Conference at Vienna at which the subject of the codification of an international law of the air was discussed at great length, and a suggested basis of such laws drawn up and agreed upon by the Conference. Naturally, this suggested code is of no effect in the meantime, but it will undoubtedly form a working basis for any codifica tion of laws by the civilised Governments of the world, when it is adjudged that the time is ripe for legislation, and it is therefore a work of the utmost importance to the future of aviation. During June, Lord Haldane left the War Office to become Lord Chancellor, and was succeeded by Col. Seely, whose interest in aviation was thought to be a sufficient earnest of things moving O
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