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Aviation History
1913
1913 - 0191.PDF
FEBRUARY 15, 1913. [/jJGHT) FLYING AT HENDON. THE weekend meetings at Hendon are already assuming a livelier tone, both as regards the flying that takes place and the number of visitors attending. Last Saturday certainly demonstrated this fact, for the thirty flights made during the afternoon were exceptionally good and varied, whilst the various enclosures contained a fairish number of visitors. The weather too, was much brighter, although there was a stiffish wind blowing. Just before M. D. Manton opened the proceedings, at 2.40 p.m., with a flight on the Grahaine- White 'bus, George Temple made a short trial flight on his 35-h.p. Anzani-Caudron biplane—and flew it well, too, considering the short time he has had to practise on this machine. Manton's flight lasted about seven minutes, and terminated with a pretty spiral vol plane and an exceedingly fine landing. Marcel Desoutter next started away on the Bleriot monoplane, but landed after completing half a circuit—presumably owing to engine trouble. He was up again almost immediately, however, and gave 10 minutes of his usual fine flying. Temple also made another short flight on his Caudron, and Manton ascended immediately after Desoutter, and went for a short cross-country flight over the Welsh Harp. While the last two were aloft, M. Kichet and Lewis Turner each made flights of about five minutes, the former on the 110-h.p. Canton Unne (horizontal) Breguet biplane, and the latter on the 60-h.p. Anzani-Caudron. Kichet was up again with a passenger shortly after, and then Lieut. Noel, of the Ewen School, went for the second part of his brevet and completed his first five " eights" in excellent style. Richet, in the meanwhile, made another passenger flight on the Breguet. Another passenger was then taken up by Manton on the 'bus, in the middle of which flight Desoutter started oft again on his Bleriot, remaining aloft for 27 minutes and executing some of his well controlled evolutions. It was during this flight that nearly every available machine and pilot came into action, and Desoutter's flight seemed to start everyl-ody doing it ! Manton was making passenger flights—and dodging other machines—as was Richet, taking with him on one occasion Sydney Pickles, who enjoyed his experience immensely. R. Blackburn made a a3-minute flight on the Blackburn monoplane, performing some alarming manoeuvres, the machine flying with an attitude resembling a tail-dive-side-slip. Lewis Turner on the 6o-h.p. Caudron was also one of the merry party, while R. T. Gates gave an example of flying in rag-time on the 'bus. Truly an astonishing performance ! Desoutter, who had by this time completed his above-mentioned flight, put in another 12 minutes " stunting," while Claude Grahame- White, just back from Switzerland and looking exceedingly well, gave us a nice little flight on the 'bus. After this Manton made one more passenger trip on the 'bus, while Richet took up three, one after the other. A short flight by Temple and another rag- time exhibition by R. T. Gates concluded the day's proceedings. During some of his flights, Desoutter caused no small amount of interest by flying round and under both Manton's and Richet's biplanes. Several flights were made the following afternoon, Sunday, although the weather was not anything like so pleasant as on Saturday. Desontter was on the Bleriot monoplane, and Richet was flying the Breguet. Manton and Cheeseman made flights on the " G.-W." 'bus, while M. Baumann flew the Cnudron biplane. ® ® ® ® NEW 80-H.P. MILITARY GNOME-BLERIOT TWO-SEATER. A NEW two-seater monoplane has been evolved from the Bl^riot works at Levallois Ferret, and tested more or less secretly at Buc. In the rough side and front elevation sketches which we are able to reproduce this week, it will be seen that, in its lines, it is unlike any machine that has previously been turned out from these celebrated French works. The essence of the design is that the propeller is arranged to the rear of the body, so that the passengers, sitting in front of it, may have a perfectly clear view below, and in front of them. Arranged in this way, the machine becomes more capable of being used for offensive purposes than if the propeller revolved in front. Pilot and passenger are seated side-by-side in elsewhere in this issue. A drawback to this method of arrangement is that if the propeller bearing ran hot, or if any vibra tion were set up owing to the propeller becoming damaged, it is likely that the upper member of the tail fuselage would become damaged and, maybe, lead to a collapse of the tail, with probably disastrous results. That the chances of an accident of this kind may be minimised, the nropeller bearing of this new Bhfriot monoplane carries an electric detecter, in circuit with a small bell near the pilot which warns him should any undue vibration be set up or should the bearing tend to overheat. The two lower longitudinals of the fuselage extend forward, -* ' f "" "»• * ' — —--^ V Front and side elevations of the new 80»h.p. Gnome-engined military Ble'riot two-seater, which is at present going through its tests at Buc, in France. the front of the fuselage, while in front of them there is a wind shield, which can be hinged forward so that they may have no difficulty in climbing in or out of the machine. Behind them are the fuel tanks and the 80-h.p. Gnome motor, the latter being sup ported on two bearings. The body of the machine is really in two sections, the section whichaccommodates the passengers, the tanks and the motor, and that portion of the framework which carries the tail. This latter section is built up with three longitudinals, the upper one passing through the propeller-boss, an arrangement which is made use of on the 90-h.p, Grahame-White military biplane that is described ® ® Rcyal Aero Club Dinner. IT has been found necessary to alter the date wnginally fixed for the Royal Aero Club Dinner, which is now to lie held on Thursday, March 13th, at the Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall. The Aero Show Race Meeting at Hendon. FOR Saturday next, February 22nd, the concluding day of the Olympia Show, a special programme has been arranged at the London Aerodrome, Hendon. The main feature will be the Speed Handicap for the Aero Show Trophy, value 60 guineas, with 20 so vs. to the winner, and 10 sovs. to the second, to be flown in two heats and a final. The final is timed to start at 4.15 p.m., and it will be forming short skids which are intended to protect the nose of the machine in the event of a heavy landing. A modified version of the standard Bleriot landing gear is employed. Probably the most striking peculiarity of the machine is that the distinctive cloche. control has been abandoned, and its place been taken by a vertical hand wheel. The rudder is still operated by the feet. Its main dimensions are a great deal bigger than the standard Bleriot machines existing at the present time, and it is expected that this new Bleriot military monoplane will have great things to show as regards weight lifting. It has a span of 12 metres and its overall length is io"5o meties. ® ® preceded, and followed, by exhibition and passenger flights by Mr. C. Grahame-White, and some of the competitors. During next week there will be flying every day from 2.30 to dusk, and passenger flights can be arranged for. Gnome Motors. IN our advance report in last week's issue of FLIGHT we described the Gnome engine exhibit, through an oversight, under the heading of the Aircraft Manufacturing Co. The particulars we fave should have been printed under the heading of the Gnome Ingine Co., of 47, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., to whom all correspondence relating to Gnome motors should be addressed. 195
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