FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1914
1914 - 0766.PDF
then or since which was not fitted with the adjustable wing control invented by the Wrights. " Langlcy is very rightly credited with having made a number of scientific experiments with miniature wings and surfaces, in order to ascertain data of ' lift and drift.' This is greatly to his credit, but it should not be forgotten that the Wrights also made inde pendent experiments and obtained a number of readings from which they compiled scientific tables and drew diagrams of pressure curves far more complete and accurate than any previously made, either by Langley or by any other scientist. Unfortunately, the Wrights have been unable to publish these data hitherto, owing to the tardy protection afforded by the patent laws, which necessitate the guarding of exclusive knowledge, to supplement the incomplete patent protection of new inventions. " Why, in view ol all these facts, are the American newspapers making such a fuss of what Langley might have done had his machine been built differently and had he known more facts on the subject of flying ? " Why has Langley's most interesting machine been taken out of the Smithsonian Institution and altered from its original historic state to try to make it fly ? "Why, if such a demonstration were considered desirable, was ® ® BRITISH Mr- Pickles Files the New Black burn. ON Thursday, last week, Mr. Sydney Pickles had the new 80 h. p. Blackburn, military type, out for the first time. A brief test flight across the Knavesmire ground at York showed that the machine was in excellent flying trim, and Mr. Pickles then took it for a ten minutes' spin over the outskirts of the city. Later another flight was made, and the machine reached an altitude of 3,500 ft. On Friday morning four trips were made with passengers, and in the afternoon, with a passenger, a spare two-gallon tin of castor oil, and two suit cases aboard, Mr. Pickles started off for a 60-mile trip to West Auckland. After going splendidly for three-quarters of an hour, a dense fog was run into just after passing Darlington, and it was necessary to land in a very small field. On Saturday morning the journey to West Auckland was com pleted, and exhibition flights were given there during the afternoon, and four passengers, including a lady, were taken up. On Sunday morning Mr. Pickles started off to fly back to Harro gate, but after 10 miles he encountered fog, and as the machine was not fitted with a compass he decided to return. As the con ditions did not improve, the start had to be postponed to Monday morning, when, after a short trial flight, Mr. Pickles flew with a passenger to York, taking an hour for the trip. A 20-min. flight with a passenger was made on Monday afternoon. Mr. Manton in Devon and Somerset. ON Wednesday week Mr. Marcus Manton flew at South Molton in a 40-mile wind, and looped many loops. According to the arrangements each flight was to last at least 10 mins., but after one fine flight in a bumpy wind, a committee-man gravely informed Mr. Manton that he had only been up 8J mins. If it was scarcely tactful it showed a supreme faith in the aeroplane's reliability. Next day Mr. Manton appeared at Taunton. He experienced some trouble with his engine and new plugs were fitted. No improve ment was noticeable, however, so the old plugs were put back, and then the Gnome ran splendidly. At exactly nine o'clock, with a gorgeous sunset background, Mr. Manton looped his 100th loop, creating immense enthusiasm. On Friday and Saturday he gave further looping demonstrations, totalling 20 for the visit. On the Saturday afternoon the air was simply full of remous, and the looping was frequently accompanied by startling sideslips. Mr. B. C Hucks at Scarborough. ON Saturday last Mr. B. C. Hucks commenced a week's engagement at Scarborough, where he is flying twice a day over the North and South Bays. In the morning Mr. Hucks gave a very thrilling display indeed, and the many thousands of people who have been attracted to spend their holidays at Scarborough by Mr. Hucks' promised demonstrations were well repaid for their choice. In the afternoon, however, the engine on the new 60 h. p. looper developed slight trouble, so that Mr. Hucks decided to get his 50 h.p. reserve machine from Brooklands. After amusing the crowds of visitors on his 80 h.p. passenger- carrying Bleriot on Monday, the looper was brought out, and it was while flying on this machine that both Mr. Hucks and the on lookers had the thrill of the day. While recovering from a splendid loop it was noticeable that the engine was running badly, and a sharp descent was unavoidable. not the old historic relic left untouched and a copy made to satisfy an insane curiosity ? "Why, if such a demonstration were decided on, was not some impartial, unprejudiced person chosen to make the tests instead of the person who has been found guilty of infringement of the Wright patent ? " Why, if the Langley flying machine was a practical flying machine, did not those in charge of the machine try to make it fly without alteration ? With the knowledge gained during the past ten years this should have been easy if the machine as invented by Prof. Langley was really capable of flight. " Why were Langley's old propellers taken off and propellers of more modern shape substituted ? " Why, if the tests have been successful, are there no photos available of the old machine in flight ? " All these things are incomprehensible to me, especially as I have just arrived from England, where the Aeronautical Society of Great Britain has only last month been paying its annual tribute to the memory of its honored member, the late Wilbur Wright, whom it regards as the joint inventor with his brother Orville of the first actual flying machine. " GRIFFITH BREWER. " ® ® 766 Thanks to Mr. Hucks' skilful piloting and presence of mind, how ever, the machine was brought to a standstill within a few feet of a large stone groyne, and both the pilot and the looper escaped with out injury. Blackburn Developments. THOSE who take an interest in the progress of the aeroplane industry in this country will have noted with pleasure that a new company—the Blackburn Aeroplane and Motor Co., Ltd.—has now been formed to take over the manufacture of Blackburn aero planes, propellers and accessories. The capital is ,£20,000, and the directors are Messrs. R. Blackburn and J. E. Jackson. The registered offices are at Olympia, Leeds, while the Company have lately acquired new and extensive premises, which, we understand, are to be developed into one of the largest works of the kind in Great Britain. Emalllite in the London-Paris-London Race. IN connection with the completion of Brock's " Triple Event " by his winning of the London-Paris-London race, it may be recalled that the planes of his Morane-Saulnier are doped with a combina tion of Emaillite of Grades 2, 3 and 4. In the Aerial Derby, the London-Manchester-London and the London-Paris-London, ig noring for the moment the flying which it has done at Hendon, the machine has completed over 1,000 miles, but when it landed at Hendon on Saturday, the condition of the doping was almost perfect, in spite of the varying climatic conditions through which it had passed. Every portion of the planes was " as tight as a drum,'' and the surface was quite unaffected. The average speed attained on the last flight speaks eloquently for the air friction reduction obtained by this dope combination. Mr. Prosser at Nuneaton. SOME fine flying was done by Mr. Edwin Prosser at Nuneaton on his Caudron biplane on Saturday evening. His first flight was made at half-past-eight. A second flight was made after dark, the machine being lit up by electric light, while a powerful searchlight was operated over the ground, and there was a firework display. More Records for Integrals. IT may be noted that the magnificent records which have recently been achieved in Germany have been carried out with the aid of Integral propellers. They were fitted to the Albatros machine on which Landmann and Bohm made their duration records and the Rumpler and D.F.W. machines on which Lmnekogel and Oelerich accomplished their height records. Fuel and Oil In the London-Paris Race. _ TAsJn the other two great races recently won by him, Mr. W. L. Brock relied upon Pratts Motor Spirit in the London-Paris- London race, while the only lubricant used on the machine was Wakefield Castrol. The London-Paris Map. IN connection with the little sketch map in our last issue, which clearly showed the route of the London.Paris-London Race, it should have been mentioned that it was the work of Messrs. Geographia, Ltd., 33, Strand, W.C.
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
