FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1913
1913 - 0546.PDF
T/UGMTl MAY 24, 1913. FROM THE BRITISH FLYING GROUNDS. Brooklands Aerodrome. TUESDAY last week, full advantage was taken of the ideal weather conditions and a large number of machines were out. Commander Samson on the Short biplane rose quickly to an attitude of 2.000 ft. and was soon out of sight en route for Eastchurch, flying at a great pace. Lieut. W. G. S. Mitchell, 1st H.L.I., passed the first half of his brevet test Wednesday on a Vickers biplane in a most workmanlike manner, flying steadily at an average height of 240 ft., with good banked turns, and vol planJ landing on trie mark. This pupil has only been at the Vickers School for a fortnight, and, in the absence of Mr. Barnwell, received his instruction solely at the hands of Mr. Knight, who was most pleased with his progress in the short time. Major Neville Cameron (Cameron Highlanders), who took his brevet on the Vickers biplane in good style, in spite of a bumpy wind during the tests. Thursday and Friday the schools were idle owing to the strong winds. Major G. C. Merrick passed his brevet tests in good style Saturday on the Bristol biplane. The Bristol School, under the capable management of Mr. F. Warren Merriam, has now three school machines, one new, to cope with the increasing number of pupils, most of whom have been recommended by old pupils. A new tractor-type biplane is expected to be delivered shortly. Lieut. W. G. S. Mitchell, isl H.L.I., passed the second half of his brevet test in excellent style at an average altitude of 200 ft., flying steadily throughout and again landing on the mark. This pupil is now shaping well on the Vickers monoplane. At 7.50 a.m. Mr. Sydney Pickles arrived in a Handley Page monoplane after an excellent 50 mins.' run from Southampton. Mr. Hawker made several circuits at 500 ft. to further test the new Sopwith hydro-aeroplane, which will shortly be tested on the sea. Sunday, Mr. Hamel arrived about 6.15 p.m., and after several circuits descended in one of his wonderful spiral vol plane's. With a 35-mile-an-hour wind blowing in the afternoon only a few machines were out. Mr. Hamel gave three good exhibition flights on his single-seater Bleriot, but even he, experienced pilot that he is, did not care to remain up long owing to the treacherous gusts which he experienced in the air from time to time. Lieut. Spencer Grey made a good test of the new Sopwith tractor biplane, and astonished everyone with the way he made the machine climb. Afterwards Mr. Hawker made several good flights with and without passengers. The winner of the ballot for the free passenger flight preferred to wait until the following week in the hope of better conditions. The competition arranged for the public from the Vickers and Bristol Schools was reluctantly abandoned until next Sunday. At the present moment Brooklands can boast of as fine a batch of pupils as has ever been gathered together at one time at any aerodrome, and a keenly contested fight for the silver cup is anticipated next week. This is, we believe, the first competition ever promoted solely for pupils, and the fact that their respective instructors have sufficient confidence in their abilities to allow them to compete speaks volumes for the high degree of proficiency attained by them. On Saturday afternoon, May 31, attempts will be made on the British altitude record—and possibly also on the world's record—at Brook lands, by Messrs. Hamel, Hawker, Gordon Bell and other well-known aviators, and given decent weather conditions, great results are expected, Vickers School.—Early Monday morning last week, Knight testing new biplane with 70-h.p. Gnome engine. Then on other School biplane with Mr. Beever. Wind stopped further flying. Tuesday, in the evening, Knight testing biplane, then handing over to Mr. Mitchell, who did some excellent circuits at good height. Mr. Orr Paterson then on biplane solo. Mr. Waterfall, and afterwards Knight, on biplane, both taking passenger. Knight, then with Mr. Beever, Messrs. Mitchell and Orr Paterson alternately, circuits at about 400 ft. Knight testing biplane, Wednesday morning, with Mr. Beever behind. This pupil was then promoted to front seat, Knight sitting behind, and did some very good straights. Mr. Mitchell then went through the first half of his brevet, performed on biplane in splendid style. Knight then testing No. 5 mono., afterwards handing over to Mr. Waterfall, who did some excellent circuits at 2,000 ft., bring in the air about 45 min. Early Friday morning Knight, on biplane, with Mr. Beever as passenger. Then Mr. Beever in front seat, Knight behind, for straights. A thick fog then came over and flying was prevented for about two hours. Mr. Waterfall then, on biplane with passenger, practising landings for competition. Knight then took a passenger for flight in biplane. Mr. Mitchell then went through the second half of his brevet flights in excellent style. Mr. Orr Paterson then circuits solo. Capt. Wood testing new biplane with 70-h.p. Gnome engine, then Knight on same machine. After test flight by Knight, Mr. Waterfall went for circuits on No. 5 mono. Capt. Wood again, flying new biplane. Mr. Orr Paterson, meanwhile circuits on the other school biplane. Mr. Mitchell then went on No. 3 mono, with Knight in instructor's seat for straights. Mr. F. G. Andreae, one of the recent pupils who took his brevet on the Vickers biplane, reaching nearly a thousand feet during his test, bis banked turns being particularly good. Sunday, Knight testing biplane early in the morning, followed by Messrs. Wight and Waterfall, and Lieut. Blatherwick, practising bomb-dropping and landing for competition. Mr. Beever, with Knight behind, straights for 10 mins. London Aerodrome, Collindale Avenue, Hendon. Grahame'White Scticol.—Tuesday, last week, very windy day. Mr. Manton only pupil out, doing circuits on the 35 Bleriot. Next day pupils out at 5.30 a.m., Mr. Pougher on No, 7 doing straights under supervision of Mr. Noel. Mr. Carr also doing straights. Pupils confined to hangars Thursday and Friday, it being too windy for out-door work. On Saturday Mr. Tone Bayetto doing circuits on B2 monoplane, Mr. Birchenough doing straights on No. 7 biplane with Mr. Noel. 568
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
