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Aviation History
1913
1913 - 0385.PDF
APRIL 5, 1913. l/LlGHTf FLYING AT HENDON. A GUSTY wind, rarely falling below 25 m.p.h., rendered it im possible for any of the contests that had been arranged for the Second Hendon Aviation Meeting last Saturday to take place. Those who faithfully visited the aerodrome, however, were not disappointed, for, as it happened, it turned out to be an interesting afternoon. At about 3.30 p.m., the 70-h.p. tandem Bleriot mono plane, belonging to Miss Trehawke Davits, was wheeled out of its shed, and soon after Gustav Hamel took the pilot's seat, and Miss Davies seated herself behind him. After a preliminary tun of the engine they started off, the monoplane rocking in the wind as it rose. Hamel steered the machine sharply round over the sheds, and as he did so a nasty gust of wind struck them, but with his usual remarkable skill and judgment he brought the machine to an even keel. For four minutes he flew about the aerodrome, but wisely did not attempt any of his " stunts " except in a raild sort ot way. A few minutes afterwards Pierie Verrier brought out the Maurice Farman biplane, and, taking with him Capt. Tyrer as passenger, had five minutes hard tussle with the wind. After this the rain came down, with apparently a remaikably fine gliding angle, for it seemed 10 get at one everywhere. All this time one of the Aircraft Co.'s sheds was the scene of some active and interesting preparations. At about 12 noon that day a new Henry Farman military • type biplane had arrived in a large packing case from France. At 3 o'clock they started erecting it. It was both amusing and instructive to watch the various parts being assembled by some half-a-dozen energetic men—including the two vivacious pilots, Chevillard and Verrier—each having his own particular job, laughing, joking and talking the whole time. The French " mechanic" is indeed a fascinating character ; he even imparts some of his liveliness to his English fellow-workmen! Gradually the biplane assumed its familiar appearance, and by 5.10 p.m. the job was finished. After some final adjustments to the controls had been made, the biplane was wheeled out of the shed, and at 5.40, the 80-h.p. Gnome running splendidly, Chevillard ascended 2 hrs. 40 mins. after they started erecting it. Chevillard made a circuit of the aerodrome, and then, being satisfied with the behaviour of the machine, proceeded to execute his remarkable evolutions—showing the confidence he has in both the machine and himself. After this remarkable exhibition, Hamel ascended in his single- seater Bleriot, and put up a fine performance, lasting alxiut 10 mins. The wind still caused the monoplane to rock a good bit, but in spite of this Hamel managed to make several of his banked spirals. At the finish of his flight, he got caught by a side-gust, and appeared to just manage to keep the monoplane in hand. Chevillard then took up Miss Davies, and treated her to some exceptionally startling dives and switch-backs, all of which, Miss Davies told us when she came down, she enjoyed immensely. No more flights were maue, as it was by then getting dark. Sunday turned out nice and fine, with a not unpleasant wind of about 15 m.p.h. Although it was still wet under foot,'the sun made things bright and warm, in fact, one was reminded of old times when some tables were laid for tea outside the Aero Restaurant, adjoining the aerodrome. Shortly after 3 o'clock, Chevillard started the first of a series of his exciting exhibition flights, during two of which he took up G. L. Temple and Louis Noel. Verrier was also out on the Maurice Farman biplane. At about 3.45 p.m., Hamel, accompanied by Miss Trehawke Davies, on the latter's 70-h.p. Bleriot monoplane, left for Brooklands. After a trial flight on the 60-h.p. Anzani-Caudron, Lewis Turner ascended on the same machine at 4 o'clock with the intention of remaining aloft (or one hour. Circuit after circuit he made, rising higher and higher, and then descending en vol plani to about 100 ft. or so. This he repeated from time to time until nearly 5 o'clock, when he landed, com plaining of the hard work he had in keeping the machine from climbing all the time, so much so that his arm ached unpleasantly. While this fine little flight was in progress, Verrier and Chevillard left for Farnborough on the Maurice and Henry Farman biplanes respectively, each carrying a passenger. Lieut. Porte was also out with a passenger on the iio-h.p. Anzani-Deperdussin monoplane, while Marcus D. Manton made an excellent flight on the 70-h.p. Grahame-V\ hite biplane (H. Farman type) that has been sold to the Government. He took the machine up a good height, and made a very neat landing, but some further adjustments were required. In the mean while, Lieut Porte made another flight in the Deperdussin, after which Louis Noel took up the " G.W." 70-h.p. machine, just as Hamel and Miss Davies were seen returning to the aerodrome, and Lewis Turner was landing after his long flight. Hamel landed at 5.10, reporting a pleasant journey. After this, flight after flight was made in rapid succession, and we cannot do better than give the following brief log of these flights, for it would take too much space to describe each one, and just think of it, what you get for your money at Hendon!—-5.10, Temple on 35-h.p. Caudron, short flights; 5.11, Hamel on single-seater Blcno! lor 5 mins. J 5,l3» Noel with passenger on the 70-h.p. " G.W." biplane ; 5.16, Turner up for 4 mins. on the 60-h.p. Caudron with a passenger j 5.34, Lieut. Porte, solo flight oi 6 mins. duration on the Dep.; 5.35, Turner with passenger for 5 mins. on the Caudron ; 5.44, Do. ; 5-4^> Hamel with passenger on twoseutet lileriot for 7 mins., spirals and! banks; 5.58, Hamel again out on two-seater Bleriot, with Caw. Tyrer as passenger, making some remarkable spirals ; 6, E. R. Whitehouse on the 35-h.p. Deperdussin for 15 mins., flying in excellent style ; 6.5, Turner with passenger on Caudron for about 10 mins. ; 6. to, Temple on his 35-h.p. Caudron flying high for about 8 mins. ; 6.20, Darnel and Miss Davies on the tandem Hleiiot, executing astonishing banks, spirals, and switchbacks, at one time almost " carrying away" the toof of the first hangar. This, and another short passenger flight immediately after, was a grand finish- up for the day, which was in every way very pleasant. ® ® ® ® To-day's Meeting at Hendon. THE programme for the meeting at the Ixjndon Aerodrome, llendon, this (Saturday) afternoon includes two special events. The first is a speed handicap, the preliminary heats being four laps of the course, and the final of six laps. The second event is an altitude contest. In addition, there will be exhibition and passenger flights, and it should be noted that the charges arc on a fixed tariff. For trips over the aerodrome, ,the fees range from two to five guineas, according to the length, while a cross-country trip to Elstree and back, about 16 miles, costs ten guineas, or to Brook- lands and back, about 38 miles, twenty-five guineas. Forthcoming Events at Hendon. ON Saturday next the first Spring Meeting will lie Hendon, while for the following Saturday, April ioth, arrangements are being made with a view to stimulating a tiept interest by the people of London in aviation. It will he known as London Day, and the Ix>rd Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London are to pay a special visit to the aerodrome, and invitations are also being sent to the mayors of the various London Boroughs and to representatives of the London County Council. held at special 1 deer. CKIAT Bf'TfaM An American view of the world's progress in aviation. The New York Evening Sun, 391
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