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Aviation History
1913
1913 - 0495.PDF
MAY IO, 191: I70GHT] FROM THE BRITISH FLYING GROUNDS. Brooklands Aerodrome. ALL the schools are now going strong and the Vickers Company have taken two more sheds to house their new machines. On Tuesday morning last week, Mr. Barnwell, Manager of the Vickers School, had rather a narrow escape over the Weybridge golf course whilst testing a new two-seater monoplane, the machine being caught by a sudden gust of wind and dashed to the ground ere the pilot could recover control. It was only his skilful manoeuvring, coupled with the strength of the chassis, a great feature of the Vickers machines, and the body, which considerably minimised the force of the impact, that prevented a worse accident. As it was, Mi. Barnwell escaped with a good shaking and a few cuts. On Wednesday, Capt. Davis with a mechanic flew over from Farnborough on a 70-h.p. Maurice Farman biplane (No. 223) and returned after tea. On Thursday, Mr. Sopwith's new hydro aeroplane (ioo-h.p. Green) arrived, and is now awaiting a favour able moment, to undergo its test?. On Friday, Capt. Dawes and Capt. Beatty came from Farnborough on the 70-h.p. Maurice Farman biplane, returning after a short stay. It should be noted that no charge for landing is made at Brooklands, where a cordial welcome at all times awaits aviators who visit there. On Saturday, it was too windy for much school work, but in the afternoon Mr. Hamel arrived from Windsor with Miss Trehawke Davies in the two-seater Bleriot monoplane, and proceeded to Hendon after doing a few spirals. On Sunday, the weather conditions were by no means ideal, but notwithstanding this a large number of spectators put in an appearance. Mr. Hamel flew from Hendon on his single-seater machine in 13 mins., and gave several of his wonderful exhibition flights. Mr. Merriam was also flying solo and with pupils. Mr. Knight took out several pupils and also made some solo flights. Several hundreds participated in the ballot for the free flight, the numbers of which were kindly drawn by Miss Sfoop, of Byfleet, the winner being Mr. L. C. Thompson, of 42, Chiswell Street, London, E.C., who had an enjoyable trip with Mr. Merriam on the Bristol biplane. The winner of the first ballot on the previous Sunday (when it was too rough for the flight to take place) was, appro priately enough, a local man—Mr. W. J. Burke, of u, Holstein Avenue, Weybridge—who had a nice trip with Mr. Knight on the Vickers-Farman biplane on which Mr. Knight came in second in the cross-country race on Easter Monday. An excellent entry (including several new machines) has been received for the Whitsun Aeroplane Handicap, and a close and exciting race is anticipated. Bristol School.—5 a.m. on Monday, last week, Merriam and Bendall out for test flights, but too bumpy for school work, so all hands busy on the machines in the hangars. Merriam up for a high flight test at 5.45 a.m. on Tuesday with Lieut. Cogan as passenger, afterwards this pupil alone doing figures of eight and practising landings for his ticket. Bendall up for several straights behind Major Merrick. .Merriam behind Mr. Grey and Lieut. Broder on several straights, the latter pupil afterwards alone for first time making two good straights. Lieuts. Hosking, Ed. MacClellan and Cogan, and Mr. Strain figures of eight, aft.-r all pupils having two turns each. Merriam finished the morning's work by taking Major Merrick for a high flight with a spiral descent, engine cut off. After breakfast, Merriam tried conditions and found favourable. Then sent Lieut. Ed. MacClellan for his brevet, who, after doing four figures of eight, came down saying it was too bumby. Merriam then tested, and found not too bad, so Lieut. Cogan tried for his certificate, passing half in fine style. Then Lieut. Ed. MacClellan went again, passing half of his test, but complained when landing that conditions were very bad. Merriam tested and found it was so, which put an end to the work. No flying for the rest of the day owing to wind and rain. . On Wednesday, at 5 a.m., Merriam for test taking Major Merrick as passenger, and Mr. found very bumpy. Bendall after tried, but still very bad indeed. 11 a.m., wind dropped a little. Bendall then went for a solo, but decided no good for school work. Later in the afternoon rain stopped, and Merrinm op lorn lest flight. Afterwards Lieut, Hosking practising landings for his ticket, and doing figures of eight in good style. Tins pupil then passed tests for trmt nicely with excellent landings close t« observers. Lieut. Cogan followed, and passed the other half of his test equally as well. Mr. Strain doing figures of eight and practising landings. This pupil can take his ticket quite e isily whenever he wishes. Lieut. Broder doing good straights. Very early Bendall was out for a test on Thursday, then behind Major Merrick, Mr. Grey, and Lieut. Duncan on several straights. Afterwards, Mr. Strain figures of eight at a good height, having three flights. Bendall giving more tuition behind Major Merrick, Lieut. Duncan, and Mr. Grey. The wind ceased a little about 6 p.m., and Merriam made a test with Major Merrick as passenger, but it was too liad for school work. On Friday, fairly early, fog ceased, and Merriam made a lest, then as passenger with Lieut. Duncan, Major Merrick and Mr. Grey on several straights. Lieut. Ed. MacClellan and Mr. Strain flew several solos excellently, with good rv/ plant landings. Merriam up again with Major Merrick (whu is improving splendidly and will soon go alone), Lieut. Duncan and Mr. Grey. After breakfast Merriam made a test and found not too bad for Lieut. Ed. MacClellan to take the other half of his ticket, but after he made a circuit it became suddenly bumpy, which put an end to further flying. Busy afterward.; in sheds, erecting machines, i&c. About 5 p.m. Merriam for solo followed by Bendall. Then Mi. Strain passed his certificate tests in good style except that he mis judged his landing and had to do five more figures of eight. After wards Kendall behind Major Merrick and Lieut. Duncan on straights, Merriam giving Major Merrick quite a lot of instruction from behind. Mr. Harris (a prospective pupil) was taken for a trial trip by Merriam to finish the morning's work Bendall for test on Saturday behind Lieut. Duncan, Major Merrick and Mr. Grey on straights, giving them two turns each. After breakfast too windy for further flying. No flying for the reit of the day owing to the strong winds. Howard-Flanders School.—from 6.30 to 8 a.m., Tuesday, last week, Layzelt Apps rolling and Dukinfield Jones straights. Back cylinder sheared four holding-down bolts, so brought machine in lot repairs. Vickers School.—Monday, last week, Knight making test flight on biplane before breakfast, then with Mr. Waterfall and Mr. Wight alternately in passenger's seat. Too windy for pupils solo. Early Tuesday morning, Knight test flight on biplane, then Mr. Andreae figures of eight and landing practice. Then Mr, Orr l'aterson in front seat with Knight behind lor straights. Capt. Wood then doing circuits on biplane. Knight then took Mr. Mitchell, a new pupil, for circuits. Karnwell meanwhile doing circuits on No. 5 mono., afterwards handing over to Mr. Wight and then Mr. Waterfall, who both did some very good straights. In the lorenoon, Karnwell out testing No. 8 mono, with passenger, making several good flights. After slight alteration to tail, Barnwell solo on No. 8, ending in smash descrilied elsewhere. Wednesday, in the evening, Knight on biplane with Mr. Mitchell, Harold Blackburn on the Stray, at Harrogate, after his flight from Yorkshire Aerodrome. Starting on the return journey. 517
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