FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1913
1913 - 0188.PDF
FROM THE BRITISH Brooklands Aerodrome. FRIDAY, last week, at 7.20 a.m., Mr. Sopwith (carrying Mr. Hawker as a passenger) made a most successful trial flight on his new tractor biplane, which is fitted with an 80-h.p. Gnome engine, reaching a s-peed of over 65 miles an hour, the machine proving a fast climber, as it demonstrated its ability to climb at the rate of 500 ft. a minute. The machine has been dismantled, but it will be at the Show. Mr. Hawker, on Saturday, was on the Burgess-Wright biplane, but owing to the strong wind did not stay out long. During the latter part of the afternoon the wind dropped, and some excellent flights were made. Mecsrs, Barnwell and Knight made some fine cross country flights at an altitude of over 2,000 ft. Mr. Spencer was on the Spencer biplane, and also with pupil and passengers. Messrs. Merriam and Bendall were out on the Bristol biplanes, flying solo and with pupils. Mr. Raynham finished up his afternoon's work on the Coventry Ordnance biplane, with a fine vol plant with engine shut off from a height of 1,500 ft., coming down right in front of his shed. Owing to the wind and rain, Sunday, no flying was possible until the afternoon, when a Quick-Starting and Alighting Competition was held, won by Mr. Raynham, who accomplished a magnificent perfoimance on the Coventry Ordnance biplane, for, although by the terms of the competition it was only necessary for him to shut oft his engine at 100 ft., he elected to do so at 1,000 ft., and effected a very clever landing within only a few feel of the mark. Good performances were accomplished by Mr. Merriam (second) on a Bristol biplane, and Mr. Hawker (third) on the Sopwith biplane. Mr. Bendall also competed. Whilst makiDg hgh circuits both Mr. Raynham and Mr. Hawker disappeared from sight in the clouds. It is rumoured that Mr. Eric Lode/ contemplates qualifying as an aviator, and that he will have the advantage ot personal tuition by Mr. Merriam, the Bristol expert. Mr. BendalPs recent "bag" of a brace of partridges whilst flying the Bristol biplane at Brooklands seems to have been responsible for all sorts of misleading statements concerning the incident in question, for no damage whatsoever was done to his propeller. There is every promise that the annual dinner of the Brooklands Aero Club, which is fixed for Friday, the 2lst inst., and at which Mr. T. O. M. Sopwith will preside, will be the most representative re-union of all those interested in aviation in this country which has yet taken place, for all the most famous pilots are expected to attend, as well as a large number of members of the Royal Flying Corps and others, who will thus have a unique opportunity of meetiDg and exchanging views with their instructors. Bomb-Dropping Competition, Sunday, February 16th. Entrants : Messrs. Merriam and Bendall (Bristol biplane), Spencer (Spencer biplane), Barnwell and Knight (Vickers Farman biplane), Hawker (Sopwith biplane), Raynham (Coventry Oidnance biplane), Sopwith (Sopwith biplane) Bristol School.—Wind blowing a gale all day Monday, last week, all pupils busily occupied in the hangars. On Tuesday, late in the afternoon, Merriam went up for a test, but still found weather too bad for pupils. He was out early on Wednesday, flying round to wake pupils. Lieut. Crawford Kehrmann was out later for some really clever circuits, followed by Mr. Lane. Lieut. Blatherwick was out for a couple of good straights, Bendall making a solo. Merriam tested after breakfast, and again in the afternoon, but found weather too bad for pupils. On Thursday, Merriam was first up, Bendall up on another machine. Lieut. Crawford Kehrmann was out for several good circuits and half right-hand turns, later describing two excellent figures of eight. Mr. Lane was also putting up a good show, making four good figures of eight and a number of landings. Meniam took Lieut. Blatherwick for an instructional flight. Wind was too bad after breakfast. Bendall early made test on Friday, with Lieut. Crawford Kehrmann, this pupil then going out for a good flight with figures of eight at 400 ft. Mr. Lane following with another excellent trip in spite of the strong wind. Both of these pupils were out for further solos later, but wind and rain stopped further work. Rain and wind after breakfast rendered flying impossible. On Saturday, wind abated a little, and Merriam was up for a test, taking Lieut. Blatherwick as passenger, but conditions were found unfavourable for pupils. Merriam gave an exhibition flight in a fairly strong wind, afterwards taking Mr. Archer as passenger. Bendall on another machine with Mr. Lane. Merriam was later out for a test, and then sent Mr. Archer for the first part of his certificate, which he accomplished in fine style. Very windy up to well into the afternoon on Sunday. Merriam made several tests, but found conditions very bumpy. Lieut. FEBRUARY 15, 1913. FLYING GROUNDS. Crawford Kehrmann made a couple of good straights, later Merriam and Bendall were out for getting-off and landing competitions, Merriam winning second place. Vickers School.—Tuesday afternoon, last week, Barnwell doing circuits on No. 5 mono, in a high wind. Next day, in the morning, Major Cameron did several good straights on No. 3 monoplane, showing good progress. Afterwards Barnwell testing No. 3 with speed indicator. In the afternoon Barnwell was doing circuits on No. 5 monoplane at 2,000 ft., afterwards giving place to Knight. On Thursday, after test flights by Knight, Major Cameron did some straights on No. 3 mono., making a heavy landing, buckling wheel and breaking skid and propeller. Barnwell was testing new engine on No. 5, Saturday morning. In the afternoon Barnwell and Knight out on No. 5. Eastbourne Aerodrome. ON Wednesday, last week, there was rather too much wind for school work, but Fowler managed to give some passenger flights in the afternoon. Thursday was much the same with regard to weather, and Lieut. Minchin was again disappointed, as Fowler, after making a test flight, decided the conditions were not sufficiently favourable for him to go for his brevet. Saturday was beautifully fine, but a fairly strong breeze prevailed till late in the afternoon. No school work was done, but at about 4 p.m. Fowler had his Bleriot out and went for a trip to Bexhill and back. Sunday was rather rough and foggy, but Monday turned out a perfect day. Fowler started the morning with a test flight on the Bleriot, during which his engine petered out through a choked jet. After the defect had been remedied, Lieut. Minchin went up and flying with great regularity successfully completed the necessary tests for his brevet. Later on in the morning, Messrs. Fowler and Hucks went for a joy ride on the Bristol. In the afternoon Fowler gave an exhibition flight on the Sommer, and afterwards sent up Mr. Thompson for his brevet, which he got through in good style, landing right on the mark at the conclusion of his second half. Lieut. Lerwill then went up on the Bristol, followed very shortly by Mr. Fowler on the Sommer, both machines being in the air at the same time, the Sommer proving itself somewhat the faster of the two. Mr. Roberts was also out on the Bristol, with Fowler up behind, and Mr. Ellis, one of the R.A.C. observers, had a passenger trip, which he appeared to enjoy immensely. Tuesday was another good day, and a lot of useful practice was put in. Mr. Morkill, a new pupil, received two instruction flights. Gassier on the 35-h.p. Bleriot and Fowler on the Sommer gave exhibition flights, and Roberts was out on the Bristol now flying quite well and should soon be fit to go for his ticket. London Aerodrome, Collindale Avenue, Hendon. Grahame-White School.—Owing to the strong wind no pupils turned up Monday, last week. A new pupil joined, Mr. J. G. W. Gamson, next day, but it was far too windy for school work. On Thursday, Lieut. P. Small doing straights on No. 7 machine nearly all the morning under supervision of Mr. Manton. Desoutter doing fine circuits on No. 6 monoplane. Mr. Lan-Davis rolling on 2B with Mr. Cheeseman. Mr. Bayetto rolling well on 4B monoplane under supervision of Mr. Cheeseman and all other pupils getting in good practice in turn. Mr. Birchenough, a new pupil, joined school Friday, but too windy for much school work. Blackburn School.—Tuesday, last week, in the afternoon, Mr. H. Blackburn did a test flight on the No. 2 machine, and on Wednesday, after test flight by Mr. Blackburn, Dr. Christie practised straight flights for 30 mins. On Saturday Mr. H. Blackburn made an exhibition flight of about 15 mins. Bleriot School.—The first three days of last week were too windy for school work, but on Thursday, MM. Teulade and Gandillon were out doing very well on No. 3, and Mr. Williams did rolling practice on LB I. The following day was windy, but Teulade managed to do a straight flight on No. 3 before the wind became too strong for further work. British Deperdussin School.—On Tuesday, last week, Mr. Spratt doing a couple of circuits on No. 4 'bus to try the wind, but found it too strong for pupils. School work impossible for the rest of the week owing to high winds. On Monday, Lieut. Hordern got in some good practice on No. 3 'bus, doing straights. This pupil is making very good progress, and should soon be ready for No. 4. Mr. Phelps out on same machine, getting some good ground work. W. H, Ewen School.—The early part of last week was practically a blank for pupils getting in any flying practice. On Wednesday, Mr. Lewis W. F. Turner was doing some fine exhibition flying in a stiff wind. Thursday turned out a favourable day, and the pupils were out at 192
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
