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Aviation History
1913
1913 - 0010.PDF
1/iKSHTI JANUARY 4, 1913. THE YORKSHIRE DISASTER. IT is again our sad duty to chronicle the death of another of our most intrepid pilots—to record another life sacrificed to the cause of aviation in this country. Mr. Edward Petre, flying a 5oh.p. Martin-Handasyde mono plane in a gale on Christmas Eve, fell to earth at Marske-by-Sea, Yorkshire, and was killed. Briefly, the facts are these. Mr. Petre started from Brooklands at a quarter past nine o'clock in the morning, intending to make a non-stop flight to Edinburgh. He had, it appears, set himself the task of flying from London to Edinburgh before Christmas. He was delayed by one cause and another until the very last day that was open for him—Christmas Eve. The wind that morning at Brocklands was blowing with considerable force, and while it was generally considered safe for experienced pilols to make short flights within the confines of the aerodrome, almost everyone there was of the opinion that the conditions were not suitable for such a long flight as it was Mr. Petre's intention to carry out. But he started. After all, it is not difficult to understand. Mr. Petre was a pilot of exceptional ability and experience, he had the utmost confidence in his machine, he had confidence in himself, and he had—true Britisher that he was—indomitable pluck and courage. It is more than likely that all would have gone well with him had the weather conditions remained constant throughout the trip. But as he proceeded up north, the wind became more and more violent, until at the time he reached Marske, where the fatal accident occurred, it had attained a velocity, we have been assured, equal to the flying speed of his machine. How can anyone but admire, whilst under the circumstances regretting, Mr. Petre's pluck in fighting on and on, in spite of the ever-increasing violence of the wind ; struggling on in the determi nation, come what may, to achieve his aim ? Approaching Marske he flew into a zone of wind so violent that he evidently decided his best course was to land. For the accident, we cannot do better, until the Accidents Investigation Committee of the Royal Aero Club publish their report on the cause of the fatality, than to place forward the con clusions arrived at by Mr. Martin, collaborator with Mr. Handasyde in the design of the monoplane Mr. Petre was flying, after a thorough investigation on the scene of the accident. " Evidently," Mr. Martin has told us, " Mr. Petre found himself drifting out to sea in a westerly wind, and, being unable to fight against it, eventually tried to land downward on the sands. From marks on the sands, and from the reports of eye-witnesses of the occurrence, it is established thaL he did make successful contact with the ground. But his front skid must have struck the ground too heavily, and undoubtedly this had the effect of bringing down the tail suddenly, and so setting his wings at a course angle to the wind. Unable to check the machine, he apparently was carried into the air to a height of about 40 feet, where, losing his flying speed, and consequently his control over the monoplane, he slipped sideways and came heavily to earth." _ It has been reported that before the final fall he was seen to raise his hands as if in despair. Knowing Mr. Petre's character, we immediately passed this on one side as being too absurd to think of. If he took his hand from the control it was undoubtedly to lift his goggles clear of his eyes—a habit he had when preparing to land. Such, then, was the sad ending to a flight that will be written down in the annals of aviation as one of the most masterly accomplished in the year one thousand nine hundred and twelve. Edinburgh from Brooklands is approximately 350 miles as the crow flies. Reaching Marske, Mr. Petre had covered over 250 miles of the journey—and under such terrible weather conditions. We mourn our loss, but we glory in the memory of a hero, a true sportsman, and an ardent and practical enthusiast. At the inquest, which was subsequently held, a verdict of " Accidental death " was returned, the Coroner remarking that it was clear that the disaster was brought about solely through the very heavy gale that was raging. The funeral took place on Saturday Birmingham Aero Club Going Strong. ARRANGEMENTS have now been completed with Mr. Gustav Hamel to give exhibition flights on the club's aerodrome at Billesley Farm, Yardley Wood Road, King's Heath, on Saturday, January I ith. The exhibition will start at about 2.30 p.m. Admission, 6d. and is., will be charged to the ground. Members will have as usual free admission. This is Mr. Hamel's first appearance in Birmingham, and those in Birmingham who have not previously seen him will now have the opportunity. The ground is 10 minutes' walk from the Alcester Lane's End Tram Terminus, or can be reached by the Stoney Lane last at Fryering Churchyard, near Ingatestone, where the late Mr. Petre's parents lived. His remains were conveyed on the previous day to the private chapel at Ingatestone Hall, where they lay in state throughout the day. Concluding, we are sure all our readers and all those interested in the cause of aviation, join with us in tendering our heartfelt sympathies to the late Mr. Petre's parents and to his brother, Mr. Henry Aloysius Petre, in their sad bereavement. To Messrs. Martin and Handasyde, the constructors of the monoplane on which the late Mr. Petre met his end, we also extend our sympathies. They have worked hard and conscientiously for aviation in England, but, through ill-luck, the shadow of two fatalities rests over their efforts during the past year. Whatever was the cause of the accident to the late Mr. Graham Gilmour, it is clear that this last fatality was not brought about by any failing on the part of the machine. Let us rather turn our thoughts to the splendid wind flight that machine made in flying from Brooklands to Marske. Edward Petre's Career. With his brother, Mr. H. A. Petre, the late Mr. Edward Petre joined the ranks of practical aviation enthusiasts soon after Bleriot had succeeded in flying across the Channel on his frail aeroplane in the summer of 1909. They set to work and evolved a highly original monoplane, which was shown in skeleton at the Olympia Aero Show of 1910. It aroused considerable comment, for it was most care fully constructed, and embodied the novel feature of having its propeller arranged behind the tail, a disposition that required con siderable constructional talent to effect in a workmanlike manner. The machine was afterwards taken to Brooklands, where it was tested. It made short flights, but it was not long before one of the brothers managed to smash it up fairly completely. Thereafter they decided not to rebuild it or recommence on another design, but rather to remain at Brooklands giving assistance to everyone, and all the time to gain valuable experience relating to construction. Here they were exceedingly popular, and soon became familiarly differentiated by nicknames. " Peter the Monk " was Mr. H. A. Petre, and his late brother was " the Painter." Eventually the late Mr. Edward Petre joined Messrs. Handley Page, and although up till then his experience of piloting was only based on his experiments with his original monoplane, and the tips he drew from being a passenger with other pilots on countless occasions, yet he under took the tuning up and adjustment of the new Handley Page monoplane, up till then a relatively untried machine. For some months these experiments were carried on with great secrecy at Fairlop in Essex, during which time the late pilot attained con siderable ability in handling that machine. Although he was fully competent weeks before the time, he made no attempt to get his brevet till July 24th of this year, when he carried out the tests with ease. A little while later, he gave that monoplane a most startling d^but by flying it from Fairlop, through London, following the course of the Thames, to Brooklands. The following month he was at Salisbury for the purpose of piloting a new 70-h.p. two-seater Handley Page machine through the Government Trials. However, the machine not being completed in time, he made no official flights in this connection. Thereafter, up till his sad death he was engaged by Messrs. Martin-Handasyde to pilot their monoplanes at Brooklands. There, one would often see him flying his machine on days so boisterous that only one or two of the most experienced of his fellow-pilots would venture out. Less than a month ago he carried out the delivery trials of one of these machines at South Farnborough before it was handed over to the Royal Flying Corps. His clever handling of the Martin-Handasyde earned for him and for the machine an enviable reputation. He proved the machine's ability to fly in strong winds. He proved it again on the very day of his death by flying 250 miles under extremely trying conditions. But it is hardly reasonable to expect that any machine at present existing should stand up to a veritable gale. ® ® ® ® car. It is hoped that this will not be the only exhibition given by Mr. Hamel, and if it is successful Mr. Hamel will be engaged again. Besides the flying, there will be a full-sized glider on view. It is also anticipated that the club will have a hangar erected on the ground. The club is anxious to make itself well known, and one of the strongest in the provinces, and as this can only be accomplished with a large membership, and also with the energy of the members, applications for membership are, therefore, invited by the secretary, at 8, Frederick Road, Edgbaston. 10
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