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Aviation History
1913
1913 - 0696.PDF
(fLlGHT) JULY % 1913. " Flight" Copyright. Gilbert just taking his seat in the Morane-Saulnier monoplane, ready for his start back to Paris on Sunday last. On the top of the forward tank, and out of reach of the pilot, is a small glass inspection cap, through which the petrol can be seen when being pumped under pressure from the reserve tank into the main one. This cup was evidently cracked when he started, and during the voyage had lost a piece out of the front, and the rush of wind getting in had turned the cup round in its seating till the broken part faced the pilot. It had become necessary when a few miles from Folkestone to pump petrol into the forward tank, which was now nearly empty. Slack pumped for his life, but the result was that most of the petrol came out through the broken glass and was blown back into his face, very little indeed going in to feed the engine. I have never had the experience of being drenched with petrol myself, but Slack tells me it is not nice and that he was nearly blinded in spite of his goggles, and eventually nearly suffocated owing to the evaporation of the spirit, and at last the worst happened. The engine stopped. Up to this time Slack had not seen the sea, and had not much idea as to his whereabouts, and it was at this moment Fate was kind and allowed him to see that he was nearing Folkestone, as he slid down the wind. When a pilot is over a strange town and his engine has stopped " for keeps," he has not much time to waste in finding somewhere to land, and makes for the first piece of green he can see, which in this case was not very large but looked all right from above. Closer inspection, however, showed that it was not ideal. The ground sloped downwards, and had a ridge in the middle like the roof of a house, and parallel to the direction of flight, which meant that he would either have to land ® 0 The Rheitns Meeting and G.B. Race. THE Aero Club of.France is organising a three days' meeting to be held at Rheims, on September 27th, 28th, and 29th, the last day being given up to the competition for the Gordon-Bennett race. It will be remembered that M. Deperdussin some time ago placed his exten sive aerodrome at Betheny at the disposal of the Club for the race, and also offered 100,000 francs for prizes and to pay expenses. On the 27th September, the French eliminating trials for the Gordon-Bennett race will be held, while the second day's pro gramme will he made up of three events. These include (1) A slow-speed contest in which the winner will be the pilot who makes the lowest speed, which must not exceed 65 k.p.h. (2) a speed range competition in which tho=e taking part must qualify by covering 20 kiloms. in a closed circuit, at a speed of at downhill on the edge of a slope, or turn round and land uphill with the wind. By this time he was very near the the ground and without power, but judged he had just time to make a sharp turn, which he did, and landed without mishap, the machine coming to rest just before topping the ridge, at 8.40. Three hours and forty minutes to cover roughly 170 miles. A plucky flight. Here he had to send for some more petrol and some tape to bind up the broken glass with, and at 10.15 he was once more off, having got out of a small field without the help of skilled mechanics to give him a start. From Folkestone the course was direct to Kempton Park, where an almost right-angle turn would have to be made for Hendon. The rain had now commenced again, and it was so misty that at a height of only 1,000 feet it was not possible to see the earth. As flying even so low as that had no advantage, Slack decided to get higher, out of danger, and once more trust to his compass. After flying for about two hours, with occasional dives to try and get a nearer sight of Mother Earth, he decided that he must have overshot the mark, and came down to ascertain his whereabouts, to find that he was still some twelve miles short of Kempton, though flying in the right direction. In two hours he had only covered 65 miles, although the machine can fly 80 miles an hour; such was the strength of the wind. Here he bought some more petrol, and after a stop of about thirty minutes—meanwhile it having left off rain ing—set out once more for Hendon, where he arrived at 1.41 p.m., having been actually in the air for 6 hrs. 36 mins. to fly about 260 miles. Bravo, Slack ! a very fine flight! ® ® least 100 k.p.h., and then the winner will be the machine which subsequently covers the course at the slowest speed. (3) a cross country race of 150 kiloms. over a 30 kiloms. circuit, the competitors- having to make a landing on each round. The prizes will total 15,000 francs on the first day, 50,000 francs on the second, and 25,000 on the third. A Resignation by R.E.P. FINDING so many calls on his time, M. R. Esnault Pelterie has been compelled to resign the position of Chairman of the Aviation Committee of the Aero Club of France. M. Soreau, who was formerly chairman, will act in that capacity until the next election in October. M. Paul Tissandier has been elected vice- chairman of the committee. 722
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