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Aviation History
1913
1913 - 0924.PDF
j-fyssg AUGUST 30, 1913. FLYING AT HENDON. BOTH events down on the programme, a speed handicap and across- country handicap, were got through under by no means ideal con ditions on the occasion of the Colindale Meeting at Hendon last Saturday. The heavy showers of the morning were not, fortunately, repeated in the afternoon, but there was, nevertheless, a gusty wind which got the best of some of the pilots on one or two occasions. A very welcome visitor during the afternoon was Gordon Bell, now quite recovered from his nasty accident at Brooklands some little time back. All were very pleased to see him looking so well, and in his usual high spirits. Late in the evening he went up as passenger with G. W. Beatty in the latter's Wright biplane, and thoroughly enjoyed his flight—the first, we believe, since his mishap. At about 4 o'clock, just before the cross-country handicap—the first event—was held, a Bl^riot mono plane flew over the aerodrome some three or four thousand feet up. It was announced as 15. C. llucks', but the monoplane looked like that of Gustav Hamel's to the writer. However, when over the aerodrome the pilot made a few spirals il la Hamel, and returned from whence he came. The cross-country handicap was flown over four laps of the Bittacy Hill course, and brought foith seven starters. These were : W. Birchenough (iz mins. 28 sees.) and R. Carr 11 mins. 13 sees.) on Grahame-White biplanes; Marcus D. Manton (10 mins. 13 sees.) on the new G.-W. biplane; Geo. W. Beatty (6 mins. 26 sees.) on the Gyro-Wright; Pierre Verrier 3 mins. 43 s;cs.) on the Aircraft-Maurice Far man ; E. Marty (48 sees.) on the 5o-h.p. Morane-Saulnier, and R. Slack (scratch) on a similar machine. Birchenough, Can and Beatty dropped out of the race during its early stages, and Marty flew out of his course somewhat, so it was left for Manton, Verrier and Slack to fight it out between them. On the homeward journey it was observed that there would be a close finish between Manton and Slack, the latter having passed Verrier, and on reaching No. 5 pylon Manton was overtaken by Slack, who finished first—although ignorant of the fact at the time — a] sees, in front. Verrier came in third, S3 sec*, behind Manton. The speed handicap was flown in two heats of six lap5 each, and a final heat of eight "Flight" Copyright. GORDON BELL BACK AGAJN.-A snap at Hendon Aerodrome on Saturday, On the right is Lieut. Porte. laps. The first heat was made up of W. Birchenough (5 mins. 56 sees.) and K. Carr (5 mins. 26 sees.) on G.W. 'buses, E. Marty (7 sees.) on the Morane-Saulnier, and Lieut. Porte (scratch) on the no h.p. Deperdussin. The Heavenly Twins had completed several laps before the two monoplanes started, and the difference in speed between the former and the latter was very marked. Carr dropped a good bit behind, owing, no doubt, to backwash difficulties, and Lieut. Porte got level with Marty at the start and soon passed his rival, coming in a good first. Marty was second, 31 sees, behind, having passed Birchenough just before the finish. Birchenough was third, 6 sees, behind Marty. In the second heat Marcus D. Manton, on the new G. -W. 'bus, was the limit man (5 mins. 20 sees.), G. W. Beatty (3 mins. 25 sees.) on the Wright was next, Verrier (2 mins. 15 sees.) on the Maurice Farman, and R. Slack on the Morane-Saulnier at scratch completed the starters. Manton ran short of oil on his second lap and had to retire, while Slack also retired from the race with petrol trouble. Verrier beat Beatty by 14 sees., Beatty, as usual, flying low and close to the pylons. Although Beatty and Verne retired during the final heat, a most spectacular race was provided by the two remaining entrants, Lieut. Porte and Marty. Both were close together during the latter part of the heat, which, coupled with the fact that they were flying at a speed of over 70m.p.h., rendered the rounding the pylons hair-raising, to say the least. Lieut. Porte flew but a few feet from the ground, and once his lower wing tip actually touched earth. On the last lap he came level with Marty, and flew thus for some time, eventually passing him, and crossing the finish line 2 sees, in front. Once or twice it looked as if Marty would regain the lead, in fact it was the most thrilling finish seen at Hendon. In addition to the races, exhibition and passenger flights were made by Beatty, Carr, Manton, Marty, Noel and Verrier. Capt. Risk, R.F.C., also made flights on a Maurice Farman, and J. L. Hall came out on the 35 h.p. Caudron, late of the Temple school. It was rumoured that Lieut. Porte was making his last appear- ance on his "Dep." at Hendon, but it is sincerely hoped that we have not yet seen the last of this fine combination of pilot and machine. The results of the cross-country and speed handi caps are as follows :— Cross-Country Handicap. About 16 miles. Start. H™d™P lime. m. s. m. s. 1. R. Slack (80 h.p. Morane-Saulnier mono- Plane) scratch 27 37* 2. Marcus D. Manton (50 h.p. Grahame- White biplane) I0 I3 2J 40 3- P. Verrier (70 h.p. Maurice Farman blPlane) - 3 43 28 33 Speed Handicap. Final 8 laps. 1. Lieut. Porte, R.N. (no h.p. Deperdussin monoplane) scratch 13 54 2. E. Marty (50 h. p. Morane-Saulnier mono- PIane) o 32 13 56 iuThe SAar tUmS °n Sunday were undoubtedly provided by Marcus D. Manton, who, at the commencement of the afternoon, ascended m the new Grahame-White biplane, making two wide circuits outside the aerodrome, climbing all the time, and passing over the Welsh Harp and behind Hendon church. When over the neighbourhood of the Welsh Harp for the second time he was about 2,000 ft. up, from which height he stopped his engine and made one fine long glide into the aerodrome with his propeller stationary. He made a very graceful landing, bringing the machine to rest opposite No. I pylon. His next w *T "S?J? C ,Up a Wind Passenger, Mr. F. S. Knipc. Further exhibition and passenger flights were made during the afternoon by Manton, and also by G. W. Beatty (Gyro-Wrieht), W. Birchenough R Carr (Grahame-White biplanes), E. Baumann 35 h.p. Caudron , J L Hall (35 h.p. Caudron), Lewis Turner 4S^?mIM)' \ Marty and R. Slack (Morane-Saulnier), and r. Verrier (Maurice Farman). in !^ n°licela ™thV exciti°g incident which might have resulted in a nasty accident. It was when Baumann and Turner were flying close together. The former was immediately above tlTe lay about 30 or 4o ft. or so-when Baumann struck an air pocket and side-shpped, missing Turner's machine by a few feef but bringing his'bus to an even keel level with Turner Ld turning sharply out of his way-a fine piece of airmanshio T T HTII wa^flymg well and high on theP Caudron.ThlcTL ieen ££ 950
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