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Aviation History
1913
1913 - 0741.PDF
JULY 12, 1913. i/TiGHT and for that reason I have always been quite agreeable to leave it to the fair sex, but if things progress in this direction, I can quite see that some day when one of our celebrated pilots takes the fatal step, I may be called upon to report the wedding, including a description of the bride's dress, and I am wondering what sort of a mess I shall make of it. The language used would, of course, have to be strictly aeronautical, and I should probably write something like this:— On the 14th inst., at the hangar in • Square, were joined together Mr. and Miss . The mono planes arrived on separate trolleys, and in a very few minutes departed as a biplane on a single trolly. The arrangements for transport were excellent, and a recep tion was afterwards held at the shed of the bride's parents in aerodrome. The pilot wore ordinary clothes as usual, and ran smoothly during the whole journey, with the exception that he missed fire for a moment when feeling for the ring, which happened at the moment to be in the possession of his propeller Mr. . The bride looked beautiful in a dress of pegamoid creme-de- fabric satin, trimmed on the trailing edge with Caudron blue dope, and carried a magnificent bouquet of Gnome and Anzani lilies. Her dainty feet were enclosed in nacelles of alummium-a-la-Coan cast on the monobloc principle, and she, and her mechanics, wore lovely bracelets of gold, given as shock absorbers by the pilot. The bride's veil of old Limerick four-point-seven lace was much admired, and was that worn by her mother when she also crossed the channel. All fees, including insurance, third party risks, and breakages (if any) were settled by Mr. , the pro peller. The honeymoon will be flown in Switzerland, after which their town hangar will be in aerodrome. ® ® ® ® QUESTIONS IN PARLIAMENT. IN the House of Commons on the 2nd inst. Mr. Fell, on behalf of Mr. Joynson-Hicks, asked whether any and, if so, how many permanent officials had been appointed in the Royal FlyiDg Corps, in accordance with Clause 51 of the Monoplane Report, for the purpose of inspecting and reporting on the aeroplanes at Tegular intervals. Mr. Tennant (Under-Secretary for War) ; It is considered that the appointment of officers with the sole duty of inspecting aero planes might lead to a divided responsibility, and therefore to less efficient inspection. The officers commanding squadrons and flights are held responsible for the fitness of the machines under their charge, and careful and minute inspections are constantly carried out by them. Mr. Arthur Lee : May I ask whether a minute and complete inspection was made by the officer in charge of the aeroplane which was wrecked at Montrose ? Mr. Tennant: I believe that is so. Mr. A. Lee : Then why was not the defect discovered ? No reply was given. Mr. Fell further asked whether the Secretary for War had yet appointed an inspector of engines in the Royal Flying Corps in accordance with Clause 52 of the Monoplane Report; and, if so, what was his name, rank, and salary ? Mr. Tennant: The answer is in the negative. On Monday Mr. Joynson-Hicks inquired whether aeroplane BE 205, upon which Lieut. Aithur was killed on May 27th, had been overhauled in the Royal Aircraft Factory as recently as February last. Col. Seely replied that in February this machine was brought to the factory to have a speed indicator clip fitted. The aeroplane was thoroughly overhauled and adjusted at the same time. Mr. Joynson-Hicks asked the Secretary for War how much of the ,£285,000 provided in the Estimates for this year for the purchase of aeroplanes, mechanical transport, stores and material had been expended ; and whether he was yet in a position to give details of such expenditure. Col. Seely : I am not in a position to give the information asked for. On Tuesday Capt. P'aber asked the Secretary of State for War whether the Cody biplane, from which Mr. Harrison was killed, had been ordered to be overhauled and recovered ; whether, owing to a review taking place, the machine was wanted before the repairs had been executed ; and whether its condition had been reported as precarious previous to the review. Col. Seely replied that the biplane had been overhauled by the maker shottly before the accident took place. The answer to the second part of the question was in the negative. The accident had no connection whatever with any review, and he had no information as to whether the machine had been ordered to be recovered. Mr. Wing asked the Secretary for War if his department was in possession of eighty aeroplanes capable of flying fifty miles pet hour at a height of 3,000 ft., and whether any member of that House had had the opportunity of verifying the above number of aeroplanes, their speed, and height of flying. Col. Seely : The answer to this question is in the affirmative. Mr. Wing : Has any member of this House been invited to see these aeroplanes ? Col. Seely : I have invited two hon. members, and, indeed, I invited all of them to see what could be seen without detriment to the public interest ; but I have not had the result of their inquiry. Mr. Wing : Has Mr. Joynson-Hicks seen the machines ? Col. Seely : I understand he has seen some of them, but I do not know whether he has completed his tour. In the light of Col. Seely's answer to Mr. Wing the following statement by Mr. Joynson-Hicks is suggestive and significant :— " My attention has been called to the question asked in the House yesterday by Mr. Wing as to whether I had seen the alleged 80 Army aeroplanes, and Col. Seely's reply that he did not know if I had yet completed my tour. " My tour has been completed some time ago, but in his letter of June 9th Col. Seely asked me for an assurance ' that you will not make public any information you may become possessed of by reason of these visits, except by such statements in Parliament as you may think necessary.' "That assurance I, of course, gave, and I have been waiting for the Army Estimates to be put down in order that I might make my report direct to the House. " I hope that, as I have been waiting so long, these Estimates will not be put down for another week or two, as, while I am con fined to bed, and so long as I am fettered by that pledge, I cannot otherwise make public the results of my inquiry." ® ® ® ® ROYAL FLYING CORPS (MILITARY WING). WAR OFFICE summary of work for week ending July 4th :— No. 1 (Airship) Squadron. Famborough.—The " Beta" and " Delta " were out almost daily during the week. On the 1st the " Delta " flew to Chilham, near Canterbury, and when returning stayed the night at Redhill, completing the journey to Farnborougti the following day in a heavy rain. On the 4th the " Beta " made 12 training ascents, including one to Warfield and return. No. 2 Squadron. Montrose. —During the week a large number of training and reconnaissance flights were carried out by the Officer pilots of this squadron. The total distance travelled for the week being 1,290 miles. No. 3 Squadron. Netheravon.—During the week most of the Officer pilots were out on BEs, Avros, and M. and H. Farmans, including three cross-country flights and two flights observing Artillery Fire. " C " Flight at Lydd put in some useful work in the observation of Artillery Fire. No. 4 Squadron. Netheravon.—On June 28th and 30th and July 1st, 2nd and 3rd most of the pilots were out on reconnaissance training. Flying Depdf, Farnborough.—The M. and H. Farmans used for experimenting purposes were out a good deal during the week. Lieut. Hubbard carried out a cross-country flight to South ampton. 767
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