FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1913
1913 - 0886.PDF
FLYING AT HENDON. HENDON visitors saw a newcomer carry off tbe first prize for the speed handicap last Saturday on the occasion of the first August meeting. This was an Avro biplane fitted with an ancient 50 h.p. Gnome engine, and piloted by P. Kaynham. This splendid bus was deservedly much admired by the spectators, and no one could grudge it the success resulting in its first appearance in the Hendon races. Kaynham had flown over from Rugby in the morning, and previous to the racing put up some fine exhibition flying. Other exhibitions and passenger flights were also made by the Hendon pilots, and by the time the speed handicap was about to commence there were over a dozen machines on the ground, so that the aero drome bore an appearance that looked like work. The first heat of the speed handicap started at about 4.30 p.m., and was flown over four laps only, as there was just sufficient wind to render flying round the course rather tricky. Lieut. Porte on the 110 h.p. Anzani-Deperdussin started from scratch, and came in first, having steadily overhauled his rivals, who were: Louis Noel on the G.-W.-Maurice Farman (2 mins. 7 sees.), W. L. Brock on the 35 h.p. Deperdussin (2 mins.), and Pierre Verrier on the Aircraft-Maurice Farman (1 min. 26 sees.). The last named got. into backwash trouble on the last lap, and retired, and Brock overtook Noel at the finish, coming in second, 7 sees, behind Porte and 3 sees, ahead of Noel. Five lined up for the second heat, as follows: W. Birchenough (2 mins. 51 sees,) and K. Carr (2 mins. 41 sees.), both on G.-W. biplanes, Lewis Turner on the 45 h.p. Caudron (1 min. II sees.), N. Spratt on the 60 h.p. Deperdussin (5 sees.) and P. Raynham on the 50 h.p. Avro (scratch). The two G.-W. 'buses plodded along close together very much like heavenly twins, with ihe other machines rapidly overhauling them. Spratt came in an easy first, and Raynham, although flying rather wide, banked well on the pylons and just managed to come in second, beating Uirchenough by 1 sec. The other twin came in third, 8 sees, behind, and Turner fourth. The final heat of six laps, with four starters, was practically a Deperdussin race, three of these machines partici pating. These were Lieut. Porte on the no h.p. Dep. (scratch), W. L. Brock on the 35 h.p. (3 min?. 17 sees.), and N. Spratt on the 60 h.p. (I min. 42 sees.). The remaining competitor was P. Raynham on the Avro (1 min. 56 sees.). This time Raynham flew much lower and closer, thereby obtaining first place. Brock added some excitement to the race by having an argument with No 2 pylon. He was making good progress when his engine started missing at No. I pylon, so he turned off the course as if to land, but apparently his engine picked up, for he made a sharp turn round No. I pylon and resumed the course. He got as far as No. 2 pylon, when the engine again failed, and before he could steer clear, the right wing-tip struck the pylon, swinging the little monoplane over on to the left wing-tip. Fortunately the chassis was on the ground when it struck, so only the machine suffered; Brock stuck to his seat all the time. Porte and Spratt, therefore, were left to finish off the race between them, and a good flight they put up in doing so ; the former obtained second place from Spratt by 2 sees. The times for the final heat were as follows:— Speed Handicap. Q, , Handicap Final Heat (6 laps). btart- Time. m. s. m. s. 1. P. Raynham (50 h.p. Avro) I 56 1045 2. Lieut. Porte (no h.p. Deperdussin) ...scratch 11 4 3. N. Spratt (60 h.p. Deperdussin) 142 11 6 ® ® it was the Cross-country Handicap, the course being to Bittacy Hill and back four times. By the time this event started the wind had dropped considerably, which somewhat upset the handicapping. It was an all-biplane contest, the starters being R. Carr (8 mins. 54 fees.) and Marcus D Manton (8 mins. 24 sees.) on G.-W. biplanes, Louis Noel on the G.-W. Maurice Farman (4 mins. 9 sees.), Pierre Verrier on the Aircraft- Maurice Farman (26 sees.), and P. Raynham on the Avro (scratch). All the machines were somewhat scattered, and it was not until the end that they drew closer together. Manton, who flew rather high, seemed to lose rather than gain on Carr. On the other hand Noel flew the course very well and passed Carr on the third circuit, thus coming in first, These were the only two who really finished, both Manton and Verrier flying off at the end of the last circuit. Raynham also retired at the finish. Verrier did not come down immediately, but continued flying high (as did Manton), eventually reaching a height of about 4,000 ft. After the cross country event some further exhibition flights were made, and several passengers taken up. In addition to Raynham on the Avro, Carr, Manton, Noel, and R. T. Gates were out on the various G.-W. machines, including a new 50 h.p. school 'bus which has just been built at the works. This machine—a fine piece of work—is similar in many respects to the other 50 h.p. 'buses, differing in having two rudders under the tail, and being over 100 lbs. lighter. The spars and most of the struts are hollow. During its test flights it took up two passengers besides the pilot, and climbed well. M. Debussy also made a fine flight on anew no h.p. British Breguet. Cross-Country Handicap. 14 miles. Start. H-^P m. s. m. s. 1. Louis Noel (70 h.p. Maurice Farman) ... 49 2432 2. R. H. Carr (50 h.p. Grahame-White biplane) 8 54 24 52 Sunday was fine but windy, and a goodly crowd witnessed a lot of flying, which continued up to 8 o'clock in the evening. R. H. Carr opened the proceedings on the 50 h.p. G.-W. 'bus (type I). W. Birchenough was out on the sister machine, whilst Marcus D. Manton put the new 'bus through its paces, and demonstrated that it had several good points. It climbs exceptionally well, and is very steady. When fitted with extensions to the upper planes it is anticipated that they will have a really serviceable machine. N. Spratt give some fine exhibitions on the 60 h.p. Deperdussin, including well-executed banked spirals. Unfortunately his engine was not behaving at all well, and finally let him down on rough ground, causing some damage to the landing chassis. However, he brought out the 110h.p. Dep., and gave further demonstrations on that. Pierre Verrier was making his usual fine exhibitions on the Maurice Farman and taking up passengers, Lewis Turner also doing his share of the afternoon's entertainment on the 45 h.p.. Caudron. E. Marty, who had been out on the fast little Morane- Saulnier monoplane during the afternoon, took over the 45 h.p. Caudron later on, and made a very fine high flight in the neigh bourhood of 7,400 ft. Further impressive exhibitions were given by P. Raynham on the 50 h.p. Avro, Louis Noel on the G.-W. Maurice Farman, and E. Baumann on the Caudron biplane. Mention must be made of the fine banked spirals made by Noel on his machine. On the whole it was a real good day's flying. THE BURTON-ON-TRENT MEETING. GREAT success rewarded the Burton-on-Trent Town Attractions Committee, who organised a four days' meeting for the first days of August. The flying ground, lent by Messrs. Bass, Ratcliffe and Gretton, which is 750 yards long by 300 wide, forms part of an island made by two arms of the River Trent. Those taking part in the meeting were: Mr. E. Ronald Whitehouse, on a Handley Page monoplane, with 50 h.p. Gnome engine; Mr. Sydney Pickles, Blenot monoplane, with 00 h.p. Anzani engine ; Mr. Raynham, Avro biplane, with 50 h.p. Gnome engine. The flying commenced on the Friday, the proceedings being opened by the deputy Mayor of Burton, who welcomed the aviators. The weather was very gusty, and it was not until 5 o'clock that Mr. Pickles made his first ascent, followed shortly afterwards by Mr. Kaynham on the Avro. Both gave a series of exhibition flights, Mr. Raynham taking two passengers. Flying on the Saturday commenced at 2.30, but Mr. Pickles had trouble with engine lubrication. On the oil-pump being taken to pieces, the defect was soon remedied, and all three machines then gave exhibitions. 912 On Monday the meeting opened with the Model Aeroplane com - petition, organised by the Kite and Model Aeroplane Association, for several prizes given by the Town Committee, the first prize being won by Mr. A. F. Houlberg. Whilst the competition was proceed ing, Mr. Pickles made a splendid flight, banking and giving a fine exhibition of spiral volplanes. In the afternoon the competitions proper commenced with the altitude event for a prize of £25, which Mv. Pickles won with a height of 6,100 ft., Mr. Raynham being second, 4.700 it. After this there was a series of exhibition flights until a quarter to five, when the quick-starting competition (prize £ ) was held. In the first round Mr. Pickles took a little over 7 sees, to leave the ground, whereas Mr. Whitehouse only took 6tsecs., but Mr. Raynham beat both of them by getting off the ground in 6j sees. A second round yielded exactly the same results. Mr. Raynham took up five passengers, and at six o'clock a cross country race to Repton for a prize of £2$ took place, Mr. Raynham winning this by 75 yards. Meanwhile Mr. Whitehouse gave a series of exhibition flights, banking and switchbacking at a low altitude, keeping the crowd interested while the other two machines were
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
