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Aviation History
1913
1913 - 0280.PDF
1/OGEL MARCH 8, 1913. FROM THE BRITISH FLYING GROUNDS. Brooklands Aerodrome. AN exceptionally interesting time was spent at Brooklands last week, every flying school l^eing daily in full swing, some most successful trials being made with new machines. On Friday, Lieut. Gordon Bell arrived about 3.30 p.m., from Farnborough, on a Caudron biplane fitted with a 70-h.p. Gnome, arriving at an altitude of 4,000 ft., and making a final spiral vol tlane, the journey having taken only 18 mins. He afterwards went on to Hendon. Several fine flights were made on the same day by Mi. Manning and Mr. Raynham on the Coventry Ordnance biplane. On Saturday, Mr. Hawker took up a passenger on the new Sopwith tractor biplane bought by the Admiralty at the recent Aero Show, fitted with 80-h.p. Gnome, and carried out a fine test of one and a quarter hours, in which the machine reached a speed of 70 miles an hour. Afterwards, on the same machine, Lieut. Spencer Grey flew to Hendon with a passenger. On Saturday afternoon Mr. Barnwell was on the the new Vickers biplane, which was flying strongly and steadily in a stiff breeze. This machine was put together at Brooklands in three weeks, and was only out on Tuesday for the first time. Mr. Barnwell also made a good flight on the Vickers monoplane. On Saturday afternoon both Mr. Merriam and Mr. Raynham made some good flights in a stiff breeze. On Sunday morning Mr. Vitrey arrived from Hendon on a Breguet biplane, and returned there after a short stay. Mr. Raynham was first out on Sunday afternoon on the Coventry Ordnance biplane, and made several good flights both alone and with passengers. Mr. Hamel was next up, and gave one of his unsurpassed demon stration on his Bleriot monoplane ; rising to a height of well over 6,000 ft. he was lost to sight in the clouds, having to descend owing to the extreme cold. After a brief rest, Mr. Hamel was out again, and amazed the large crowd of spectators with the manner in which he handled his machine. Whilst Mr. Hamel was giving his demonstration, Mr. Barnwell on the Vickers monoplane made a fine flight to Hendon and back. Mr. Merriam on the Bristol biplane made a very fine spiral vol plan? from an altitude of 2,000 ft., and also took up several passengers. Mr. Barnwell, on the Vickers mono, gilding down Into Brooklands Aerodrome after his non-stop flight to Hendon and back on Sunday. Mr. Bendall was out on another Bristol biplane with some pupils, and Mr. Knight was out testing the new Vickers biplane, on which machine also one or two pupils made flights. Several more new machines will shortly be ready for testing at Brooklands, at least three of them being monoplanes, which will be piloted by well-known aviators. Bristol School.—On Monday last week, Merriam was out for an early test, then taking Lieut. Picton Warlow, a new pupil, for his- first trip of several circuits. Wind was quickly rising. Merriam out for a solo, and found things too bad for pupils. Wind was too bad all Tuesday morning. Later in the afternoon the weather improved, and Merriam was out for a test, taking Lieut. Robertson Dobie as passenger. Bendall also out for a test on another machine. Merriam was again out with a passenger, and found the conditions much better, afterwards sitting behind Lieut. Robertson Dobie for several straights. Rising wind prevented further work. On Wednesday, Bendall first up for test, afterwards behind Lieut. Robertson Dobie on straights. Merriam then up with same pupil. He then flew over to Byfleet to wake the other pupils, but rain came on and stopped all flying for a while. After breakfast Merriam up for solo to test conditions, then up behind Lieut. Robertson Dobie for straights and landing practice. This pupil then up alone for the first time flying four good straights with landings. Merriam took up Lieut. Picton Warlow, who had control at intervals. Bendall testing another machine, and then took Lieut. Picton Warlow for tuition. Merriam finished morning's work by taking same pupil up to 1,500 ft. over Byfleet and landed by means of a spiral glide into aerodrome. Merriam up testing a new engine and then with Lieut. Duncan, a new pupil, for his first trip. Bendall up with same pupil and also with Lieut. Picton Warlow. Lieut. Blatherwick up for a solo, but found it very bumpy. Merriam up for test, and Bendall took Lieut. Picton Warlow for tuition and landing practice. This instructor also up with Lieut. Robertson Dobie and Lieut. Duncan. Merriam up for a solo, after which, darkness prevented further work. Merriam up for a high flight Thursday, and then up twice with Lieut. Picton Warlow as passenger. Lieut. Robertson Dobie made four good straights and one half circuit in good style. Too windy after breakfast for flying. Wind dropped somewhat at 4 o'clock, and Bendall made a test, but still too bad for pupils. It was still too bad for flying all through Friday morning. In the afternoon, Merriam made a test, and then up for a high flight with Lieut. Picton Warlow as passenger, teaching pupil right and left hand turns. Bendall tested another machine, and then took Lieut. Duncan for two tuition trips. Merriam up with Lieut. Morgan, another new pupil, for his first trip, reaching 1,000 feet,, later took this pupil for another trip, giving him the control at intervals. Bendall up with Lieut. Picton Warlow, instructing pupil in banking. Lieut. Blatherwick made two good solos, and Lieut. Robertson Dobie up for three straights in good style. Merriam and Bendall each a solo back to sheds, after a good alternoon's work. Merriam first out for solo Saturday, then out behind Lieut. Picton Warlow for straights. Bendall testing another machine, and then up with Lieut. Robertson Dobie, who afterwards made two good circuits. Lieut. Blatherwick followed with a good solo, and descending by means of a spiral vol plan? with splendid landing. Merriam up behind Lieut. Picton Warlow for straights. Bendall up with Lieuts. Morgan and Duncan for circuits. It was too windy after breakfast for tuition, and pupils were engaged on the machines in the hangars. Vickers School.—Tuesday afternoon last week, Barnwell, testing new school biplane for adjustment, &c. Major Cameron, on No. 3 mono before breakfast, Wednesday, making a number of excellent flights with good landings. During the forenoon Mr. Lane flew the same machine getting well up, and landing excellently. Meanwhile Barnwell and Knight testing the new biplane. In the afternoon Mr. Lane several further flights on No. 3, Barnwell testing various propellers on No. 5 mono, Knight on biplane. During Thursday, Barnwell and Knight making final testing flights on new school biplane, the machine proving quite fast, and behaving very well in a 20-mile breeze. Both were out early again Friday on biplane, and later Barnwell took Major Cameron up, there being too much wind for pupils' solo work. In the afternoon, Mr. Lane flying No. 3 mono, and Barnwell testing new propeller on No. 5. Saturday, Barnwell and Capt. Wood made flights on school biplane early in the morning. Capt. Wood then took Knight as passenger on the same machine, while Barnwell flew No. 5 mono. Later Knight took Major Cameron for several straights on biplane, 286
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