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Aviation History
1913
1913 - 1168.PDF
FROM THE BRITISH Royal Aero Club Eastchurch Flying Grounds. THE events of last week at Eastchurch Aerodrome include the visit of the First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. Winston Churchill, M. P., and the naval airship No. 3, the " Astra Torres," which had made a splendid voyage to Sheerness from Farnborough. The Admiralty yacht " Fnchantress " took up a berth off the Sheerne&sdockyard at 9.30 a.m., where Mr. Churchill watched the evolutions of the seaplanes connected with the Isle of Grain hydro plane s-tation, some of which circled around the yacht and the adjacent battleships. Leaving in a steam pinnace, Mr. Churchill was soon landed on the pier, where he was received by Commander C. R. Samson, R.N., commanding the Eastchurch Naval Aviation School, and Capt.-Superintendent Prendergast, R.N. At the main gates of the dockyard a large grey naval car was boarded, Commander Samson taking charge of the steering wheel, and the aerodrome was soon reached. After inspecting the machines, which were drawn up in parade order, the hangars, &c, and Messrs. Short Bros.' factory, Mr. Churchill was taken up for an extended flight by Commander Samson in a Short biplane No. 3, their objective being the Isle of Grain, which was reached without incident. Mr. Churchill and Gen. Sir Ian Hamilton entered Naval Airship No. 3, which was in charge of Lieut. N. F. Usborne, R.N., Lieut. W. C. Hicks acting as flying officer, and also on board, together with the crew, were Commander E. A. D. Masterman and Eng.- Lieut. Cave-Brown-Cave, R.N. The airship cruised over to Eastchurch, passing over Sheerness, Minster, and arriving over the aerodrome carried out some graceful evolutions. The return journey to the Isle of Grain was made with out incident, and the airship descended and was made fast until about 4 p.m. when she left for Farnborough. The advent of the airship following so closely on the visit of the " Delta " naturally caused some excitement, and the general shape and appearance of the two aircraft were noticed with interest. Mr. Churchill again visited the aerodrome on Saturday where a general parade of aeroplanes were drawn up for his inspection, and the greater part of them took the air at different intervals during the afternoon. Mr. Churchill again made a flight of several circuits of the aerodrome in a Short No. 3, piloted by Commander Samson, R.N. Capt. Geoffrey Cox, 3rd North Staffordshire Regiment (Special Reserve), who has recently taken his certificate at the Bleriot School at Hendon. NOVEMBER I, 1913. FLYING GROUNDS. Gordon Bell on Wednesday piloted a new " pusher" Short biplane through a test flight. This machine has been designed to carry a gunner placed in the prow of the machine, thus commanding an uninterrupted view below, free from propeller blast. A weight equivalent to the absent gun and gunner was carried in the machine. The test appeared to be very satisfactory, the machine lifting quickly and easily and a good flight was put up. The machine is of the usual type supplied to the services with the exception of the provision made for the gun. Lieut. Spenser Grey, commanding the Calshot Naval Air Base has been at the aerodrome during the latter part of the week, flying an 80 h.p. Sopwith (No. 104). The naval flying has been of the usual high standard, the machines used being Shorts, Deps, Sopwiths, Avro, Bristol, Maurice Farman, Bleriot, &c Brooklands Aerodrome. ON Saturday last the Vickers and Bristol Schools were busy with pupils. Mr. Barnwell was out on the Bleriot monoplane, and Mr. Pixton was busily engaged in tuning up the up-to-date Bristol tractor biplane which has now arrived at Brooklands, and which will prove an acquisition alike to Brooklands and to the machines of this type already there. Mr. Hawker was engaged in fitting up the Sopwith biplane with the 100 h.p. Green engine, and as the time limit for the Michelin prizes has now been extended, he will doubtless make further attempts to win them, for which he will have the best wishes of his many friends. On Sunday the continuous downpour precluded the possibility of any flying. Bristol School.—No flying all day Monday last week, owing to wind and rain. On Tuesday, Lieut. Warren first out for an excellent solo, which was followed with a solo by Lieut. MacNeece. Pixton for several circuits with Mr. MacDonell in pilot's seat, then this pupil for first solo, making an excellent flight. Later Pixton circuits with Lieut. Bridson in pilot's seat, then this pupil alone for first time. Lieut. Hinds, and Lieut. MacNeece both out making excellent solos. Rain stopped flying for the rest of the day. Wednesday morning Lieuts. Hinds, Warren, and MacNeece, and Messts. Finney and MacDonell all out for two good solos each. In the afternoon, Pixton first out for a test, then Lieuts. MacNeece, Hinds and Warren, and Mr. MacDonell out for a good solo each. Pixton then up with Lieut. Bridson for landing practice. Later Lieuts. MacNeece and Warren, and Mr. MacDonell for another solo each. Darkness prevented further flying. No flying during Thursday morning, owing to thick fog. In the afternoon Pixton for a test with Mr. Newton as passenger. Then Lieut. Hinds, Lieut. Warren, and Mr. MacDonell one flight each alone. Pixton with Lieut. Bridson in pilot's seat practising landings. Lieut. Hinds and Lieut. Warren another solo each. Rising wind prevented further flying. Pixton out with Lieut. Bridson and Lieut. Robertson for a flight on Friday, both pupils being in pilot's seat. Solos were executed by Lieuts. Hinds (one), MacNeece (two), Warren (one), Mr. Finney (one), and Mr. MacDonell (two). In the afternoon Lieuts. Hinds, Warren, and MacNeece, and Messrs. Finney and MacDonell for a solo each. Then Lieut Bridson for a solo. Darkness prevented further flying. Howard-Flanders School.—Wednesday, last week, Dukinfield Jones out before breakfast for hour test. Maintained altitude of about 1,500 ft. for 61 mins., when petrol ran out. Later out again for 10 mins. In afternoon out for 20 mins. Next day up in after noon, testing after slight adjustment. Carried passenger. Later out for 10 mins. in wind of 30 m.p.h. Vickers School.—Monday, last week, in afternoon, Barnwell testing biplane 26 in bumpy ground. Next morning Knight test biplane ; 20 Messrs. Pierson, Coles, Malcolm, Kinsman and Batty- Smith solos. Paterson test biplane 26, then with Mr. T. Hinshel- wood (new pupil). Wednesday morning, Knight on biplane 20 test, then with Mr. Hinshelwood. Paterson with Messrs. Macdonell and Hinshelwood. Barnwell with same pupils. Paterson on biplane 26, Messrs. Kins man and Pierson alone. Messrs. Pelham and Coles solos on bi plane 20. Captain Wood and Barnwell on Bleriot mono. Mr. Coles then went for his brevet, getting through in splendid style. In afternoon Barnwell testing biplane 26, then with Capt. Frank- land. This pupil then solo. Messrs. Pelham and Malcolm solos. Knight on biplane 20 with Mr. Hinshelwood and Captain Frank- land. Barnwell with Capt. Macdonell. Messrs. Batty-Smith, Kinsman and Malcolm solos. Barnwell on biplane 20 with Messrs. Macdonell and Hinshel wood, Thursday afternoon. Messrs. Kinsman and Malcolm solos on biplane 26, Barnwell with Messrs. Batty-Smith and Kinsman. Paterson and Knight on biplane 20 with Messrs. Macdonell and 1194
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