FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1914
1914 - 0657.PDF
GILBERT'S FLIGHT ROUND FRANCE. IN last week's FLIGHT brief reference was made to the very fine flight round France made by Gilbert, and in the accompanying table will be found the distances between the various controls and the times of smarting and arriving at each. Only once during the whole trip of 1,841 miles did Gilbert fail to reach the control set as his destination. Running out of petrol when near Mirande he had to make a forced landing, and as it was getting too dark to continue he decided to postpone the completion of the stage till the following morning. The fact that the weather conditions were extremely unfavourable makes the flight even more creditable. As to the actual progress of the tour we can hardly do better than reproduce M. Gilbert's own account of his doings : " I suddenly decided to make the ' Tour of France ' for the Michelin Cup. The event appealed to me because instead of having to fly into a foreign country or to turn round and round like a squirrel in a cage the new regulations called for a flight which was of value as showing the utility of the aeroplane, while it would also be interesting. " The day before the start I studied maps and routes in order to be able to find my way easily. In this manner I studied about 15 metres of maps—those nice coloured Government maps. I cut out the route for the journey which I had marked off with a straight line in blue pencil, leaving about 15 centimetres on each side. The strip thus formed I rolled up and found it to be of great use on my two days' journey. The start took place on June 8th at 3 a. m. from Villacoublay. As the day progressed it began to rain. Members of the Aeronautical Ligue of France had been requested to be on the aerodromes or controls where I had to land, at certain indicated hours in order to verify my passing and to sign my check card. At Peronne, the first control, where I arrived at 4.10, ahead of my scheduled time, nobody was up. However, the noise of my engine soon caused two heads to appear from the depths of a shed. I shouted and made desperate signs from the seat of my machine. The two heads—and the rest—came hurrying along, signed my card and I was off again. 1 continued to Rheims, tossed about by the wind and soaked by the rain. Landed on the military aerodrome, had my book signed and a few minutes later was on my way again. I had to rely upon my map and my compass for finding my way. As for the numbers painted on top of gasometers and roofs of houses, and intended for signposts for aviators, words fail me. These numbers will be very useful when an aviator can say to his passenger : ' I say, will you look in the Wirelessphone Directory and see what 34668 stands for,' but until then ... On the other hand, the hangars on the landing places are clearly visible and one can easily read the name, painted on the roof in black or white letters, of the county over which one is flying. " Thanks to the careful arrangements of the Le Rhone firm replenishments were awaiting both my engine and myself at five different towns. At Gray Edouard Martin was waiting, at Yieune and Pau my mechanics, and at Evreux ML Verdet. I cannot emphasize too strongly the great service all rendered to me. " The magnificent panorama which was unrolled l>eneath me on the first part of my journey and also during the latter part was one of the finest sights I have ever seen. Perhaps the dark weather contributed towards making the delicate shadings stand out more. I saw the North with its houses hidden amongst the trees ; I saw ihe Vo.-ges with its perched habitations, and the immense chain of the Cevennes, the summit of which was hidden in the clouds. Then the green prairies of Midi . . . " I had counted on being able to spend the night at Pau, but unfortunately I had the wind against me from Nimes and night was approaching rapidly, so as I was near Mirande, I decided to stop there. The field in which 1 landed had lieen at one time used for an aviation meeting, but what I took to lie a suitable landing ground turned out to be a field covered with one meter high grass, and 1 had several anxious moments. " ' Eh ! We thought you were dead,' said a peasant who came running up, followed shortly by several others. ' Eh ! You are not ill ? Eh ! you come from Paris ? . . .' After asking one of the peasants to look after my machine, I got thero to show me the way to the nearest telegraph office so that I could reassure my friends before going to the hotel for a few hours' rest. *' When I woke up the next morning I could not at first make out why 1 was in that room, but then I suddenly remembered the ' tour.' I jumped out of bed and looked at the clock. It was half-past two ! Some kind friends at the hotel who had promised to help me to start were all fast asleep. When I arrived at the field where I had left my machine the man in charge was sleeping peacelull) under one of the wings. I roused him and was soon on the- way to Pau. In the moonlight the white houses and the churches of Midi resembled vague shadows. In the distance arose the imposing chain of the Pyrenees. " I arrived at Pau at dawn and left again a quarter of an hour later, keeping at an altitude of between 150-300 metres on account of the fog. I was assailed by a form of drowsiness and sang at the top of my voice in order to keep awake. After passing Evreux renewed courage seemed to come to me I fancied that 1 was at the end of my journey. At this moment a terrible storm brought me back to merciless reality. In the middle of a violent hail storm flashes of lightning rent the sky on all sides and I expected to be struck by the lightning at any moment. Finally I arrived at Calais. With what haste I started for the kit time towards ' home' 250 kilo metres away. " I was again surprised by a storm, and this time fell a victim to it as I had lost my bearings. After wandering about for nearly an hour I found myself flying along the sea. I descended, and, without stopping my motor, asked in which direction Paris lay. An hour and a quarter later I arrived at Villacoublay, and completed the voyage of 3,oco kilometres, not counting those extra ones covered on the last stage. The fatigue was not very great. I had the advantage of will-power, and will-power is able to overcome fatigue. My machine has been replenished five times, and I ... the same number of times. Cold chicken at Vienne, cold chicken at Mirande, chicken at Romorantin. " What chickens ! " JUNE 8TH. Villacoublay (dep. 3.1). Peronne (arr. 4.10)... Peronne(dep. 4.25). Reims (arr. 5.20) Reims (dep. 5.35). St. Dizier (arr. 6.10) St. Dizier (dep. 6.15). Gray (arr. 7.30) Gray (dep. 8.5). Joigny (arr. 9.40) Joigny (dep. 9.50). Beaune (arr. 11.10) Beaune (dep. 11.30). Vienne (arr. 12.50) Vienne (dep. 1-30). Nimes (arr. 3.30) Nimes (dep. 3.40). Ran out of petrol and landed at Mirande (arr. 8.15). Spent night here. JUNE OTH. Left Mirande at 3.15 a.m., and arrived at Pau (arr. 4) 217 „ Pau (dep. 4.15). Saint Andre-de-Cubiac (arr. 6.15) 124 ,, St. Andr^-de-Cubzac (dep. 6.30). Romorantin (arr. 9) 192 .. Romorantin (dep. 9.30). Angers (arr. 11.30) ... 118 „ Angers (dep. 11.40). Evreux (arr. 1.15 p.m.) ... 130 „ Evreux (dep. 1.35). Calais (arr. 3.50) 142 .. Calais (dep. 4). Villacoublay (arr. 6.39) '54 » Total 1,841 miles. 99 £1 Si 112 99 112 u8 miles. »» " M »1 )» »» > t 657
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
