FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1913
1913 - 0039.PDF
JANUARY II, 1913. yards before it fell, diving head first to the ground. The wind at the time was south-westerly with gusts. The portion of the belt of trees which may have had some influence on the accident runs due north and south, and therefore the wind was blowing at an acute angle to, and over, the trees. (4) That before commencing the turn, the aircraft was about 40 ft. above the top of the belt of trees. After completing the semicircle, the aircraft was 60 ft. from the ground, i.e., level with the tops of the trees, and after that, was at no time more than a, distance of 50 yards away from the trees. (5) That the field of view from the pilot's seat was very limited in the vicinity of the aircraft below the level of the wings. Opinion.—The Committee is of opinion that the pilot put about owing to a failing engine, presumably with the intention of return ing home, a distance of only a few miles. The Committee is of opinion that the accident was due to the failing power of the engine combined with the loss of flying speed on turning sharply, which loss was accentuated by the wind disturbances due to the configuration of the ground and to the presence of the belt of trees on the windward side. The pilot's field of view was undoubtedly restricted, but whether or not this affected his actions the Committee is not prepared to say. Recommendation.—The attention of manufacturers and aviators is specially drawn to this particular accident, which emphasises the risk that is run in starting a cross-country flight with an aircraft, which, from one cause or another, is under-powered at the time. The Committee again draws attention to the primary importance of a good field of view for the pilot. Public Safety and Accidents Investigation Committee, A meeting of this Committee was held on Monday, the 6th inst., at the Royal Automobile Club (by kind permission), at 8 p.m., when there were present: Col. H. C. L. Holden, C.B., F.R.S., in the Chair, Mr. A. E. Berriman, Mr. G. B. Cockburn, Mr. F. K. McClean, Mr. Mervyn O'Gorman, Mr. Alec Ogilvie and the Secretary. Hitcbin and Wembley Accidents.—The reports on these accidents were drawn up and ordered to be submitted to the Executive Committee with a recommendation that they be pub lished in extenso. Marske-by-the-Sea Accident,—The enquiry into this accident was resumed, the Committee proceeding with the drafting of the report, the completion of which was deferred till the next meeting. British Empire Michelin Prizes. At the Royal Aero Club, on Tuesday last, the Chairman, Sir C. D. Rose, Bart., M.P., presented Mr. S. F. Cody with a cheque for £600, being the prize awarded to him in connection with the British Empire Michelin Competition No. 2. A cheque for ^500 was presented to Mr. H. 0. Hawker, being the prize awarded to him in connection with the British Empire Michelin Competition No. 1. At the close of the presentation, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to the Michelin Tyre Co., Ltd., for their generous prizes, which have given so much encouragement to the industry in this country. ROYAL FLYING CORPS. THE following appointment was announced in the London Gazette of the 3rd inst. :— Military Wing—Second Lieut. Geoffrey de Haviland, Special Reserve, is appointed to the Reserve. Dated January 4th, 1913. Special Reserve of Officers.—Royal Flying Corps.— Military Wing.—Norman Spencer Roupell, late Cadet Brighton College Contingent, Officers Training Corps, to be Second Lieu tenant (on probation). Dated January 4th, 1913. The following appointments were announced by the Admiralty on the 6th inst. :— Lieut. P. A. Shepherd, to the " Actceon," additional, as Flying Officer. Dated December 5th, 1912. Capt. C. E. Risk, R.M.L.I., to the "Actseon," additional, as Flying Officer. Dated December 5th, 1912. Lieuts. I. T. Courtney, R.M.L.I., and G. V. Wildman- Lushington, R.M.A., to the "Actseon," additional, as Flying Officers. Dated December 5th, 1912. The following appointments were announced in the London Gazette of the 7 th inst.:— Military Wing.—Capt. Tom I. Web-Bowen, the Bedfordshire Regiment, to be a Flight Commander, and to be seconded. Dated December 5th, 1912. Lieut. Alexander E. Burchardt Ashton, 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards, to be a Flying Officer, and to be seconded. Dated December 5th, 1912. [filGHT Gordon-Bennett Aviation Cup. The cup havirjg been won by a representative of the Aero Club de France, the race for 1913 will take place in France. The exact time and place will be announced later. The nature of the contest will be decided at the meeting of the Federation Aeronatique Internationale, to be held in Paris on January 28th, 1913, at which the Royal Aero Club will be represented. Each club affiliated to the Federation Aeronautique Internationale, has the right to challenge the holder, the Aero Club de France, and such challenge must be sent in before March is*, 1913. The Committee of the Royal Aero Club will select the three com petitors to represent the British Empire, and intending candidates are requested to notify the Secretary on or before February 25th, 1913, of their willingness to compete, if chosen. Applications must be accompanied by a cheque for £20, the entry fee, which amount will be returned should the entrant not be selected. Gordon-Bennett Balloon Race. The cup having been won by a representative of the Aero Club de France, the race for 1913 will start from Paris on Sunday, October 12th, 1913. Each club affiliated to the Federation Aeronaulique Internationale has the right to challenge the holder, the Aero Club de France, and such challenge must be sent in before February 1st, 1913. The Committee of the Royal Aero Club will select the three com petitors to represent the British Empire, and intending candidates are requested to notify the secretary on or before January 28th, 1913, of their willingness to compete, if chosen. Applications must be accompanied by a cheque for £20, the entry fee, which amount will be returned should the entrant not be selected. Annual General Meeting. The annual meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 19th, 1913. Notices of motion for the general meeting must be received by the Secretary not less than twenty-one days before the meeting, and must be signed by at least five members. Lecture by Mr. Handley Page. Mr. G. Handley Page will deliver a lecture at the Royal United Service Institution on Wednesday, the 15th inst., at 8.30 p.m., entitled " The Comparison of Monoplanes and Biplanes with special reference to the Stresses of each type." The Aeronautical Society has kindly placed a number ol tickets at the dispjsal of members of the Royal Aero Club, which can be obtained on application to the Secretary. Presentation to Library. Messrs. T. O'Brien Hubbard and Charles C. Turner have very kindly presented a copy of their book, "The Boy's Book of Aero planes," to the Club Library. 166, Piccadilly. HAROLD E. PERRIN, Secretary. Questions in Parliament. IN the House of Commons last week, Lord Winterton asked the Secretary of State for War whether the officers and men allocated for service under the Royal Naval Airship section are paid according to the number of ascensions made instead of by daily allowance ; and, if so, what were the considerations upon which this discrimina tion between members of the aeroplane corps and of the airship section was based. Dr. Macnamara replied :—Both in the Military and Naval Air ship sections the officers and men are entitled to flying pay under existing rules for days of ascent only, unless they are qualified aero plane flyers. I may add that the whole matter is at present under the consideration of the Board of Admiralty. Colonel Seely, replying to Mr. Joynson-Hicks, stated that officers are required to learn to fly and to obtain a Royal Aero Club certificate before being taken for a course of instruction in military flying, but it is left to them to decide where they will go to learn. Of the 111 officers who have obtained certificates and have been selected for the Royal Flying Corps, 108 obtained tbem after receiving instruction in Great Britain at civilian flying schools. Arrangements have been made for accommodation for Army aero planes at four civil aerodromes, and the War Office is prepared to extend this number if other civil aerodromes in suitable places are ready to enter into agreements on the terms already arranged. No officers have been sent to learn to fly at foreign schools, but one officer has recently gone to a French flying school at his own wish. 39
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
