FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1914
1914 - 0292.PDF
[/OCHTJ the enclosures some ten or fifteen feet from the ground before land ing. Harnel's next move was to head to wind and throttle down his engine, to that the monoplane began to " pancake." After relat ing this manoeuvre, he made a final loop and then landed. A few passenger flights by Ixmis Noel on the Maurice Farrnan brought the proceedings to a close. The combined looping demonstrations were to have been repeated on Saturday afternoon last, and drew a large number of visitors to the aerodrome, but the elements decided otherwise, for although it was fairly fine, but windy, the rain "came down" at 3.30 p.m., and never ceased. The only flying, therefort, were two fine high flights by I.ieut. Spencer Grey on the 9oh.p. Sopwilh, another Russian Ballet by K. H. Carr and " Lizzie," and a passenger flight by Louis Noel MARCH 21, 1914. on the Maurice Farman. Although the weather on Sunday afternoon was dull, rainy and gusty, and only a few spectators turned up, a series of thrilling flights were given by Gustav Hamel on his 8oh.p. Morane- Saulnier. He first went up at 3.30 p.m., and in a flight lasting ten minutes he executed four complete loops, four side loops, and two tail slides, at a height of from 600 to 800 ft. At 5 o'clock he made another short flght lasting about two minutes, during which he made a rapid side loop and one complete loop. Later on he went up again for ten iminutes, and at a height of 800 ft. he executed four more complete loops and two side loops. In all, therefore, he made isixteen complete and side loops. The only other flights were two by Louis Noel, with lady passengers on the Maurice Farman. ® ® ® ® NAVY ESTIMATES. IT is impossible to give a complete summary of all the expenditure in the Naval Estimates for which naval aeronautics are responsible, but in his speech introducing the Estimates in the House of Commons, Mr. Winston Churchill stated that the total amount was ,£900,000. Below we give the principal items as they appear in the Estimates, with, where po-sible, the corresponding amounts included in the previous year's Estimates :— Aircraft, building and repairing by contract— For airships, aeroplanes and seaplanes— Already f Hulls, machinery and fittings ordered I Gun mountings To be I Hulls, machinery and fittings ordered i Gun mountings For repairs and alterations, and for replace ments of parts of hull, machinery and gun mountings of airships, aeroplanes and seaplanes and for aircraft experimental machinery Total New ship for carrying st uplanes Salisbury Plain Aviation School ( ontiibution to War Department towards cost of Central Flying School Accommodation for airships generally „ ,, seaplanes „ ,, ,, aeroplanes ,, ,, ,, seaplanes (Sheerness) . . Air Department salaries, &c. Naval officers and men serving or under train ing in the Royal Flying Corps (remuneration additional to Naval Pay) Marine officers and men (remuneration addi tional to Marine Pay while serving or under training in the Royal Flying Corps) 1914-15- £ 135,000 2,500 165,000 72,500 J 375,000 80,000 18,950 20,000 94,440 51,560 3.350 12,650 5,371 1913-14. 1 113,300 113,300 21,000* 25,000 72,ooot 22,000? 9,000s 6,6001! 2,371 34,500 8,000 8,335 2,000 The following is the abstract from the first Lord's memorandum, relating to aircraft :— During the past 12 months a considerable advance has been made in the Naval Air Service. Seaplanes have combined for war exercises with the Patrol and Defence Flotillas, and also took part in the naval manoeuvres in July, and a flight of naval aeroplanes was employed during army manoeuvres. Considerable success attended the operations of the aircraft in all these exercises. A cruiser was specially commissioned and fitted out to carry sea planes during the summer of last year, and a large number of flights were made from her. In consequence of the experience gained in this ship it has been decided to procure a special vessel as seaplane carrying ship. Progress has been made in the establishment of a chain of seaplane bases round the coast; five such stations have already been com pleted, and the formation of others is proceeding. Good progress has been made with the design of the seaplane itself, and its develop ment into certain standard types for war purposes Is proceeding rapidly. The practical utility of aeroplanes and seaplanes for war purposes is increasingly evident and the experiments in connection with bomb dropping, wireless telegraphy, and gunnery have been continuous. At certain of the bases round the coast the personnel of the Air Service have replaced the Coast Guard, and are carrying out Coast Guard duties in addition to Naval Air Station work. As the Air Service develops it is hoped that a considerable number of the * ProbalJe expenditure to March 31st, 1914, ^34,350. ,, 1, ,, .694,000. t> •> u ^16,000. § >i » •> Zi9,ooo. « ,< •• ^14,150. Coast Guard stations may be transferred and economies thereby effected. Good progress has also been made in the development of airships. The Astra Torres and Parseval airships ordered last year have been successful, and further orders for ships of this type have been placed. Two of the leading shipbuilding firms, Messrs. Vickers' and Armstrong's, have undertaken the construction of airships in this country, and have been given orders for four and three airships respectively. The establishment of an airship station on the Medway with two sheds of the largest size is being pressed forward, and should be completed shortly. A site for another station in a suitable position has been procured, and the establishment of an inland airship station for training purposes is under consideration. After full discussion with the War Office it has been decided to amalgamate the naval and military airship sections and to place the control of this branch of the Air Service wholly under the Admiralty. Arrangements have therefore been made to transfer the army air ships to the Admiralty, and in future all airship work will be carried out by the navy. Several officers of the army airship section with their men have agreed to transfer to the Naval Wing for the develop ment of the Airship Service. Their experience in aeronautical work is valuable, and their services will be welcomed by the navy. Training in aeroplane work has been continued at the Central Flying School and the Naval Flying School at Eastchurch ; and in airship work at Farnborough. The headquarters of the airship section will be transferred from Farnborough to the Medway as soon as the new station is completed. At the Central Flying School four complete courses for naval and military officers have been held since its opening, and a fifth is now in progress. About 30 naval and military officers have been trained in each course, and a number of men of both services have also been trained in air work. In addition, a number of officers have been through short courses at the School. At the Naval Flying School at Eastchurch a large amount of training work has been carried out, particularly in the training of engine-room artificers, artisans, and other ratings in flying and in the general care and maintenance of aeroplanes of all kinds and their engines. Arrangements for the special entry of civilians as officers and mechanics have been made, and the regulations are about to be isssued. During the year, there were three fatal accidents in the Naval Wing, one death being caused by a propeller striking an officer when on the ground, one officer being killed while flying as a passenger with a civilian aviator, and a third officer being killed while flying on duty. Coastguard. — Calshot Castle, Warsash, Isle of Grain, and Great Yarmouth Coastguard Stations have been transferred to the Air Department, and the necessary arrangements made for the duties hitherto performed at these stations by the Coastguard to be carried out by the personnel of the Naval Air Service. In his speech introducing the Navy Estimates in the House of Commons on Tuesday, the First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. Winston Churchill, said :—Now I come to air. We have now 103 aeroplanes, of which 62 are seaplanes. We have 120 regular pilots and 20 officers who have taken their Aero Club certificates in addition. Five seaplane stations have been established along the coast. Two others are under construction. The personnel of the new service has had to be created, and there are now 125 officers and 500 men in the Air Service, and by the end of the year the numbers will reach 180 officers and 1,400 or 1,500 men. This new Service is thoroughly naval in spirit and character, but at the same time it contains, and must contain, a large element of civilians, both officers and mechanics. This is indispensable to the proper develop ment. We cannot spare an unlimited number of naval officers and naval ratings. The seaplane has a great future before
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
