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Aviation History
1914
1914 - 0701.PDF
JULY 3, 1914. proceedings to the Commanding Officer on the completion of the investigation of a subject Without doubt these meetings cannot fail to be productive of good to the Corps in general and the members of the Committee in particular. Genera!. —The experimental work which has for some time been conducted in wireless telegraphy has been vigorously continued since the concentration at Netheravon commenced. Messages have •been sent from and received by the wireless officers over long distances, whilst flying in aeroplanes—the usual distance being of the order of 20 miles ; but messages have been transmitted over distances nearly double this figure, and it is anticipated that much longer distances will be possible in the near future. It may be mentioned, as indicating the tremendous work which is now being -done at Netheravon, that the distances covered <by two wireless officers during last week totalled over 1,500 miles. There are two wireless stations, in the Camp, one being immediately opposite the Officers' Quarters, while the other is at the rear of the temporary aeroplane sheds with the Headquarters Flight, both stations being completely equipped with the necessary apparatus for sending as well as receiving messages. As regards photography, which is also, in the case of the visiting squadrons, attached to the Headquarters Flight, on each recon naissance embodied in the scheme of training, an independent aeroplane has followed the aerial observers with a photographer as passenger, and the object which the machines taking part in the reconnaissance were required to locate has been photographed from a height of over 2,000 ft., so as to show to any observers who IKED*!] qualities of an aeroplane, tests have been made on various machines in the squadrons to determine their speed ranges by flying them over a measured distance. The results of these experiments should prove highly interesting reading to constructors and others con cerned with aeroplane maintenance—despite the influence of various important factors, and the fact that the slowest flying speed is so largely dependent upon the skill of the individual pilot—as at the present time little information is available as to the deterioration in performance, if any, but which probably does take place, in course of time. The results alone would, however, be of little value to our readers, as without some knowledge of the mileage flown and the treatment to which the machines have been subjected during their life, an entirely erroneous conception might be received as to the extent to which an aeroplane retains its capabilities in regard to speed. In addition, many machines, as is well known, have been largely rebuilt, and consequently their life cannot be regarded as in any way dating from the time they were originally purchased or taken into service. So far the exercises have been remarkably free from grave mishaps. As is only to be expected in a camp of this character, where so much flying is daily indulged in, and in which the work is more or less of an experimental nature, some accidents are almost inevitable, especially as forced landings were necessary on several occasions. But it speaks volumes for the skill of the pilots and the excellence of their machines that in no case has there been any serious casualty, although more or less damage has been done to various parts of several of the machines. This is not without some CONCENTRATION CAMP AT NETHERAVON.—A B.E. fitted with wireless equipment about to start on a crosscountry flight. failed to discover the enemy, the exact position in which he was located at the time the observations were made. As previously mentioned, several of these photographs are reproduced in this issue through the courtesy of Col. F. H. Sykes, Commandant of the R.F.C., and Major Musgrave, while, in addition, a photograph taken from an aeroplane at a height of 6,700 ft. also appears. In addition, photographs of the country in the immediate vicinity of the camp have been made, and it would appear to be probable that a photographic survey of the whole country from above would prove of inestimable value to pilots, despite the changes in appearance of the ground at different seasons ot the year ; because the prominent landmarks would appear in the photograph, exactly as they appear to the pilot. The cameras used in the R.F.C. for aerial photography differ in no way from the usual type, and are fitted with ordinary Goerz len<es. Meteorology, that very necessary and useful adjunct to the science of aeronautics, has not been neglected, as a skilled meteoro logist is continually in residence at Netheravon, his office being situated behind the permanent sheds of Nos. 3 and 4 Squadrons. Daily observations are made, and a report, deduced from these as well as other records sent in, is issued during the evening, which gives a forecast of the weather for the next day. In addition, pilots on descending from a flight report their experiences as regards the direction of the wind and the condition of the atmosphere—such •reports being noted on the notice boards in the Officers' mess. With a view to ascertaining what effect age may have on the speed benefit, as the necessary repairs and the transport of the machines provided excellent practice for these departments. The concentra tion, which commenced on June 2nd, closed on June 30th, and the squadrons were to disperse to their respective stations by the 2nd of Under the arrangements a " gasbag," which represented a dere lict airship, took part in one of the special exercises which were reserved for the last two days of the camp, when the effectiveness of the aeroplane in this particular branch of reconnaissance was fully demonstrated. The balloon was sent up at Highworth, about eight miles from Swindon and about fifty miles from the camp, and the majority of the twenty-five machines of various types which were despatched to find it succeeded in their mission. In conclusion, we may say that the work we have indicated as having been carried out during the Netheravon exercises can only be regarded as representative in the mass of what has been going on day by day as a simple matter of routine among the squadiuris at their home bases. Naturally, it would not be politic to givV more than a general idea of what that work consists of and of how it is carried out by the officers and men who compose that magni ficent arm, the Royal Flying Corps. To praise them for their work and their entire devotion to duty would be as offensive to them as it would be pleasing to ourselves—and in these matters it is othert that we must think of first of all. We will, therefore, simply con tent ourselves by saying that never was a motto better chosen than thn of the R.F.C.—'* Per Ardua ad Astra." 70I C 2
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