FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1913
1913 - 0244.PDF
(/ycfifj MARCH I, 1913- THE AERO SHOW TROPHY CONTEST, HENDON. HKNDON held its first race meeting of the 1913 season last Saturday afternoon, and achieved a marked success, which looks very promising for the subsequent meetings. The weather, though some what cold, was ideal, for only a slight easterly wind was blowing, and there was a pleasant freedom from mist, which has been much in evi dence at the aerodrome during the winter season. The number of visitors, too, that turned up was quite reminiscent of old times. There were, we should think, at least three or four thousand present, many of whom came in cars. The flying itself was very good, whilst the speed contest was conspicuous for the remarkably close finishes to each heat, which speaks well for the handicapping —a by no means easy job, especially early in the season, when some of the machines are likely to be doubtful quantities. After a few preliminary trial-flights by some of the pilots, the first heat of the speed contest was flown over four laps of the aero drome, a distance of about six miles. There were five starters, as follows :—Marcus D. Manton, on the 50-h.p. Grahame-White 'bus, with 2 mins. 18 sees, start ; Lewis W. ¥. Turner, on the 60-h.p. Aniani-Caudron biplane, who had bad luck, and had to retire from the race ; Pierre Verrier, on the 70-h.p. Renault-Maurice Farman biplane, with 28 sees, start; Gustav Hamel, on the 50-h.p. Gnome- Bleriot monoplane, with 5 sees, start; and £. Richet, on the 1 io-h.p. Canton-Unne (horizontal) Breguet biplane—the same, by- the-way, that took part in the British army trials—who was at scratch. Manton's wonderful old biplane was soon overhauled by the three other machines, though it made a brave attempt to keep well in front. As the last lap approached, the three machines gradually closed up, until they practically crossed the finishing line together. Verrier came in first, Richet and Hamel following 3 sees, liter, the latter being only \ sec. behind Richet. The handicap flying times were as follows : Verrier, 8 mins. 41 sees. ; Richet, 8 mins. 44 sees. ; Hamel, 8 mins. 44! sees. The second heat, though not quite so exciting, was a good race, nevertheless. H. Blackburn, on the 50-h.p. Blackburn monoplane —which has been fitted with a new propeller, and flies much better— was the limit man, having a start of 2 mins. Gordon Bell came next on the 60-h.p. Caudron biplane, with 40 sees, start, then Marcel Desoutter on the old 50-h p. Gnome-Bleriot monoplane, with a start of 13 sees. James Valentine, with Miss Trehawke Davies as passenger, was at scratch. He flew a tandem 2-seater 70-h.p. Gnome-Bleriot. After completing three laps, Gordon Bell had to retire, so the race was finally decided in the following order. First, H. Blackburn (7 mins. 49 sees.) ; second, James Valentine and passenger (8 mins. 2 sees.); third, Marcel Desoutter (8 mins. 16 sees.). Just before the final heat was flown, R. T. Gates proceeded to cut up the air into little pieces in the neighbourhood of No. 1 pylon on the " G.W." 'bus, while Lewis Turner gave an exhibition flight of about five minutes' duration on the Caudron biplane, after which Gustav Hamel executed one of the finest cork screw glides he has ever made, which included a new "spasm." This consisted of a semi-side slip during one of the spirals, so that one of the latter is apparently " missed." In all he made six spirals. As soon as Manton, who had, in the meanwhile, taken up a lady passenger, landed, the final heat of the speed contest was held. A speed handicap, with four in it, at; Hendon aerodrome on Saturday, showing Turner's Caudron and Verrier's Maurice Farman, in front, during the first heat. 250
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
