FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1913
1913 - 0619.PDF
JUNE 14, 1913. I/UGMT FLYING AT HENDON. LAST Saturday's programme was spoilt to a certain extent by the gale that swept the country that day. At llendon it had a velocity of between 35 to 40 m.p.h., which naturally put racing round the aerodrome out of the question. A very fine cross-country handicap was flown in spite of this, nevertheless. The course was to Elstree and back, and there were four starters. These were : II. M. Brock on the 35-h.p. Anzani-Deperdussin monoplane (2 mins. 15 sees, start); Louis Noel on the 70-b.p. G.-W.-Maurice Farman biplane (40 sees, start); Pierre Verrier on the 70-h.p. Aircraft-Maurice Farman biplane (20 sees, start); and Jules Nardini on his 50-h.p. Gnome-Deperdussin monoplane (scratch). All four pilots had a hard struggle with the wind, and Brock was beaten down at Elstree, where he had to land. The other three returned to the aerodrome safely and very close together. Nardini came in first, 13 sees, ahead of Verrier, who was only one-fifth of a second in front of Noel. Several exhibition flights were given by the above pilots during the afternoon, and Gustav Hamel executed one of the finest displays of airmanship that he has ever given, on a new 50-h.p. Gnome- Bleriot monoplane. Considering the wind that was blowing, his bankings were wonderful. Later in the evening, F.. Cheeseman and Marcus D. Manton made flights on the 50-h.p. Grahame-White biplane, but apart from this nothing further was done thai day. The next day, Sunday, was about as windy as it was the day before, and in addition a terrific rain-storm very effectually damped the proceedings of the day. This was a pity, for it was the occasion of the second Theatrical Aviation Meeting, and a large gathering of the " Profession " had been anticipated. However, a goodly number put in an appearance, nearly all the London theatres being represented, and many popular "stars"were to be seen. Three free flights were to be given to the three actresses who received the greatest number of votes from the readers of The Era. The lucky ones were Miss Margaret Swallow, Miss Georgina Milne, and Miss Emmy Wehlen. They were taken up by Pierre Verrier on the Aircraft- Maurice Farman in the evening, when the wind had somewhat decreased in violence. As is always the case, they were extremely delighted with their experiences, and considered the flights much too short. Other aviators out were E. Cheeseman, on the Grahame-White biplane,andG. L. Temple, onhis35-h.p.Anzani-Caudronbiplane. On low-powered machines, such as they were flying, they only attempted straights. A much interested and picturesque visitor on the Saturday was H.M. the King of Uganda, who is paying a visit to this country. HENDON NOTES. To-day, Saturday, is " North London Day'' at Hendon, a special aviation meeting for the residents of North London having been arranged. . All the Mayors of that part of London, U well AS the Lord Mayor, have been invited to attend, and local notabilities have also received invitations. Two events will ba decided, a crow- country handicap and a speed handicap. The former race will lie tli>w 11 for the North London Cup and money prices. A free flight will also be given to the winner of a competition organiied by The North London Guardian. After this meeting a • night flying demonstration will l>e given, in which the Willows airship will take part ; a firework display depicting the " war in the air " will conclude the evening's programme. These night flying demonstrations, which are both instruclive and amusing, are to be a feature during the coming season, for I under stand that it is intended to hold them fortnightly, on Thursdays and Saturdays. Some good " stunts" for these events are being thought out, so that we are likely to have something worth seeing. The Grahame-White Aviation Co. are to be congratulated on their action over the matter of the slate of the "road" at the bottom of Collindale Avenue. After numerous applications to those responsible for the upkeep of the said " road," without result, and the latter in the meanwhile getting worse and worse (it |*>ssible I), they took the matter into their hands and, with the help of a roller, Ax., patched up the surface. It is now possible, therefore, to reach the aerodrome from the Edgware Road without being reminded of mal it titer. Whilst on the subject of roads, I believe that in the near future a new approach to the aerodrome will be opened from Hendon Church, enabling one to travel to and from the aerodrome via Golders Green. I have to record yet another improvement to the aerodrome, which will, I expect, be ready for to-day's meeting. It consists of a smart kiosk where one may obtain an assortment of the literature of the day, "poslcards of the flyers," &c, which promises to supply the usual long-fell want. Amongst the many passengers who went up at 1 Iendon on Sunday, the 1st inst., were several " Jack Tars who had saved up sufficient cash to enable them to get a taste of the latest form of navigation. They went up with Lywit Turner on the 60-h.p. Caudron biplane, and were enthusiastic, as only such bonnie toy* can be, at the finish of their joy rides. 9 ® ® ® HAMEL'S WEEK-END FLIGHT. EVERY Sunday Mr. Gustav Hamel flies over to Brooklands on his Bleriot monoplane and returns later in the evening to Hendon. Last Sunday, as everyone in the vicinity of London must very well remember, was a dreadfully gusty day, "unsettled, with rain at intervals," as the weather forecast would say. Mr. Hamel is not readily to be put off flying by any such inclemency, however ; but the flight that he made on Sunday morning before lunch ranks as one of the hardest that he has ever undertaken. It is the more worthy of appreciation, inasmuch as it was just carried out in the ordinary course of things, the route being in the ordinary way a commonplace one ; the mere event, as such, would not of its own accord attract attention. Several times during the flight Mr. Hamel had his machine beaten down from under him, while he had recourse to the full limit of the warping control and was yet unable to prevent the machine from heeling over to a considerable angle. Finally, while within a few miles from Brooklands, he was forced to alight, which is perhaps better proof of the severity of the weather than anything else could be. On terra firma, and in an exposed place, his predicament was less cheerful than in the air, so he started again and flew the remaining few miles to the aerodrome. It was a remarkable opportunity for such a pilot to gain an appreciation of his machine, and when Mr. Hamel returned to Hendon he spoke enthusiastically of the new Bleriot he is now flying. His return journey was also made in a considerable side wind, and his arrival was the reward that the Hendon crowd received for their patience. When Hamel first appeared in the distance, his machine was about the size of the point of a pencil held al arm's lenglh— a mere speck, located in the very centre of a snowy whiti cloud. It was perhaps 2,000 feet or more above the ground, and at a great distance. Gradually it grew larger, and for a long while it looked just like a bird—and not a very big bird eilher—coming steadily across the wind on outstretched wings. At that distance it was impossible to distinguish anything precisely, but after a minute or two the definition improved immensely, and one could see the wings and the tail, and watch the flight accurately with the naked eye. The monoplane at that height seemed just like some little miniature with its white wings now outlined against the blue sky. Presently the hum of the engine ftimt to the ear in waves of sound up the wind. It seems strange, but one can hear better a noise that is high up when the wind blows towards the object thai is making the noise. Straight overhead passed the machine, until it was above the centre of the Hendon aerodrome, and then Hamel commenced one of the spiral glides of which he is such a perfect exponent. With infinite grace the monoplane wheeled downwards on its course. It was a sight that one may often see when Hamel and other experienced pilots are flying, but it had a singularly beautiful setting on this particular occasion. It was one of those fresh clear evenings that are the joy of an English spring—it was, loo, essentially a day on which flying had been far from general, and no the event was not just one incident among many, but a complete scene in itself—a scene that well repaid those enthusiasts who went to the Hendon aerodrome on such a day. ® ® ® ® Paris to Warsaw for the Pommery Cup. ACTIVE competition for Pommery Cup for the last half-yearly period has soon commenced, a magnificent start being made on Tuesday by Brindejonc des Moulinais' flight from Villacoublay to Warsaw. Leaving the Villacoublay aerodrome at 4 a.m., he reached Wanne, in Westphalia, at 9 a.m., and after an hour's rest went on to Johannisthal, where, with a strong following wind, he arrived about noon. During the afternoon Brindejonc des Moulinais re mounted his Morane-Saulnier monoplane, and arrived safely at Warsaw at 6.15 p.m., having covered a distance of about 875 miles. He intended to continue his flight to St. Petersburg on Thursday. 645
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
