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Aviation History
1912
1912 - 1233.PDF
No. 2 SquaJnn.-.yiaa&.y last week was rather gusty and there was practically no flying except for a couple of shontrips by Cant Becke on B.E. 206. Major Burke, however, took the same machine out previous to Capt. Becke, for a short spin. macmnt Tuesday was rather gusty, but was a slight improvement on Monday from a flying point of view. Major Raleigh on the 100-h.p. Breguet 211 took the machine upon several occasions, having to contend wuh a strong wind. Major Moss, wuh Capt. becke, went up on a Maurice Farman biplane 215, for a twenty minutes flight, and on returning against a very stiff wind, the machine appeared almost stationary in the air for a few minutes. Capt. Becke took several passengers up during the afternoon on the same machine. Richet, one of the Breguet pilots, came over from Hendon on an English Breguet, and was accompanied by P. H. Cooper, his mechanic, for the purpose of demonstrating the capabilities of this particular type of machine. The flight from Hendon occupied 55 mins. against a strong head wind all the way. Their average altitude was about 3,000 ft. This machine, by the way, is fitted with a 110-h.p. CantonUnne engine which is mounted in a horizontal plane in the front of the fuselage, and drives a four-bladed propeller of 10 ft. diameter through a two to one bevel gear. The arrival, later in the afternoon, of Verrier from Hendon on a Maurice Farman caused considerable interest, as also did his fine performances round the aerodrome on the common during the late afternoon. A strong wind was still prevailing, from 20 to 30 miles an hour, and Verrier's handling of the Maurice Farman under these conditions was well worth witnessing. Gordon Bell also gave a fine display on the Short tractor, and put the machine through tome very good tests against the strong wind. Wednesday opened with clear weather, but the wind was still rather high during the afternoon. Major Raleigh was out on Breguet 211. Capt. Fox with Lieut. Joubert de la Forte went on B. E. 201 for a flight of 20 mins.' duration. Richet was out again on the 110-h.p. British-built Breguet, demonstrating the speed qualities and climbing powers of this particular type ; Lieut, l'layfair accompanied him. During the afternoon a Flanders monoplane was sighted at about 4,000 odd ft., and was a sight well worth watching. The pilot had presumably brought the machine from Brooklands, and after many inquiries it was stated to be Raynham who was responsible for the exhibition. After sighting No. 2 Squadron's sheds he continued to treat the on-lookers to some fine manoeuvres over the Farnborough Common. Capt. Fox made a fine flight from Lark Hill on Maurice Farman 214. Long distance cross-country trips are becoming quite an ordinary occurrence in the Flying Corps. This shows the enthusiasm of the officers for their exciting work, especially when one takes into consideration the kind of weather which usually prevails during late autumn and early winter, and the past few weeks has seen machines taken out and flown splendidly, in weather which a year ago would have meant an idle time for the machines as far as flying is con cerned. An instance of how little the weather interferes with the work of the Royal Flying Corps occurred on Thursday. During the morning in a driving rain and strong wind, Lieut. ® ® ROYAL FLYING CORPS. IN our issue of October 19th last, we published particulars of the Royal Flying Corps, taken from the Army List. The Naval Wing, however, was not included, but we now give below this section of the R.F.C. as set forth in the Army List for this month :— NAVAL WING. (Parent Ship : H.M.S. " Actoeon." Capt. C. D. Johnson, M.V.O., R.N.) Aeroplane Section. Officer Commanding-Conmanter C. R. Samson, R.N. (acting). Squadron Commander—-Lieut. R. Gregory, R.N. Flying Officers— Lieut. J. W. Seddon, R.N. Lieut. W. Parke, R-N. Lieut. C. J. L'Estrange-Malone, R.I*. Capt. R. Gordon, R.M. Sub.-Lieut. F. E. T. Hewlett, R.N. For Machinery and Overseeing Duties— Eng.-Lieut. E. F. Briggs, R.N. Artif.-Eng. F. W. Scarff, R.N. Medical o/^-Staff-Surg. H. V. Well,-, R.N. Under Instruction— Lieut. C. L. Courtney, R.N. Paymaster E. R. Berne, R.N. Herbert made a fine flight round the aerodrome, as also did Capt Pigott on the same machine, Maurice Farman 215. Major Rayleigh also went out on the Breguet 213 under the same trying condition*. By dinner time the force of the wind had increased to such an extent that flying was practically out of the question, as the wind speed was anything from 25 to 35 miles an hour, and vety gusty at that. Upavon (Central Flying School). THE week opened with rather stormy weather, it being dull and inclined to rain. The men at the Central Flying School are being given a fortnight's furlough during the ChrattU holidays. This means that very little flying will take place during the next week or so. Monday, December 16th.—A moderate northerly wind prevailed and the sky was overcast and dull. Lieut. Allen on the Maurice Farman 415 made a couple of good flights of 14 mins. and 35 mins. respectively. Lieut. Pepper followed with a couple of flights of similar duration. The machine was then handed over to Lieut. Atkinson, who was away for about 8 mins,, followed by Major Ashmore, who made thre; very good flights, which occupied the greater part of an hour actuilly in the air. Engineer Lieut. Randall, R.N., afterwards went for a trip of 25 mins. on the same machine. Major Ashmore then went up on the Maurice Farman 418 and made a tine flight of about half an hour. Lieut. Atkinson followed with a flight of the tame dutation, and Lieut. Allen was out on the same machine about a quarter of an hour. The Short biplane 401 was piloted by Major Gerrard, with Capt. l.ithgow, R.A.M.C, as passenger, for about 15 mini. Major Gerrard afterwards went for a short trip on 402 Short biplane. Tuesday, December 17th was sunny, with a moderate south-west wind. Lieut. Longmore, R.N., was out on the Maurice larman, 411, accompanied by Leading Seaman Bateman, who will, no doubt, shortly try for his pilot's certificate. Lieut. Longmore then took tip Paymaster Lidderdale for a short trip. On the Maurice Farman 415, Lieut. Allen, Lieut. Pepper, and Colonel Cooke each made a flight of about 10 mins. duration. Major Gerrard took Chief-Mechanic Scott out for a short spin on the Short biplane 402. Wednesday, December iStli, saw a change of the weather—for the worse, unfortunately. A strong north-west wind, accompanied at inter vals by rain, was blowing all day. The Maui ice I at man 415 went out, piloted by Lieut. Atkinson, and was up for alxmt 20 mins. Lieut. Pepper was also out for about the same length of time. Petty < tflicer Andrews then ventured out, and madeagooJ 15-min. flight in bumpy wind. Engineer Lieut. Randall, R.N., then took the sime machine out for over half an hour in a stiff wind, doing a fine performance. Major Gerrard on the Short biplane 402 made a couple of shott trips, with Seaman Brady, after which Brady was up alone for a few minutes. Major Gerrard afterwards took Capt. Lithgow out on the same machine for about twenty minutes. Lieut. Longmore, R.N., on the Maurice Farman 403 took Leading Seaman Bateman out for 10 mins. Major Asnmore did a fine flight lasting half an hour on the fame machine. Lieut. Longmore also went out on the Maurice Farman 411 with Paymaster Lidderdale for about 20 mins., afterwards taking up Air Mechanic McNamara for about 12 mins. ® ® Sub-Lieut. R. L. G. Marix, R.N.V.R. (acting). Sub.-Lieut. H. A. Littleton, R.N.V.R. (acting). Boatswain H. C. Bobbett, R.N. For Repair Work—Carpenter J. V. Collins, R.N. Airship Section. Officer Commanding—Commander E. A. D. Masterman, R.N. Squadron Commander—Lieut. N. F. U»borne, R.N. Undergoing Airship Course at Farnborough*— Lieut. P. A. Shepherd, R.N. Capt. C. E. Risk, R.M. Lieut. G. V. Willrnan-Lushington, R.M.A. Lieut. J. T. Courtney, R.M. " Borne in " President." For Wireless Telegraphy Duties with Aircraft*—Lieut. R. Fit*- maurice, R.N. ® ® ® ® ROYAL FLYING CORPS. THE following appointments were announced by the Admiralty on the 18th inst. :— Commander O. Schwann, to the " President," additional, as Assistant to Director of Air Department, to date November 25th. Lieut. C. J. L'E>trange-Malone, to the Admiralty, as Assistant Director of Air Department, to date November 2Hth. Engineer-Lieut. G. W. S. Aldwell, to the Admiralty, as Engineer Inspector in Air Department, to date November 25th. 1225
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