FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1914
1914 - 0780.PDF
$MH JULY 24, 1914. 1 1 * * *»— -Be l-., ,._.;..-- U_ -*ft^k *§*;<.#'»*•« h«iflB I "Flight" Copyright. CENTRAL FLYING SCHOOL, UPAVON.—A view of the machines of A, B, and C Flights on the asphalte in front of the sheds during preparation for the evening practice. The machines missing from the centre of the line are the four Avros, which were undergoing overhaul at the time of our visit. Webb-Bowen and a master mechanic, who have a staff of three sergeants and sixteen men, is shown in one of the accompanying photographs. Passing on, we come to the engine shop, which is divided into two portions. In the first and smaller part are various sectioned examples of actual engines, as well as the engines complete. These latter are used for instructing officers and men in engine construction, dismantlement and assembling, as well as for demonstrating the method of timing the ignition and the valves, &c. The second part is the engine repair shop proper, where the engines used in the flight machines are periodically overhauled and the necessary adjustments made by the staff mechanics. This shop contains a good equipment of electrically driven machine tools, as well as an acetylene welding plant and an apparatus required for white-metalling engine bearings. The next shed is the fabric shop where aeroplane wings, rudder, ® ® ROYAL FLYING CORPS (MILITARY WING). WAR OFFICE summary of work for week ending July 17th, 1914:— No. 2 Squadron. Montrose.—No. 2 started on their return journey to Montrose on the 13th July; reached Lincoln that evening, and left Scarborough the following day. They have since been detained at Scarborough by heavy rain. Machines, transport and personnel art moving together, as on the journey down. Nos. 3 and 4- Squadrons. Netheravon.—These two Squadrons have been engaged daily in carrying out the course of instruction for 10 Officers drawn from regular units and in observation of artillery fire. The course is progressing satisfactorily. No. 4 Squadron has also done some night flying, and a convoy run by night by the whole Squadron Mechanical Transport. No. 5 Squadron. Fort Grange.—No. 5 Squadron is busy getting settled in at their new Station, Fort Grange. Machines are being flown over from Netheravon and Farnborough as tem porary tent sheds are erected for housing them. It is expected that work on the permanent sheds will be commenced shortly. No. 6 Squadron. Farnborough.—Pilots were out daily engaged on observation work in connection with the training of the 1st and 2nd Divisions. This Squadron should be completed in personnel in another two weeks' time by drafts from the Recruits Depot. Nos. 1 and 7 Squadrons. Farnborough.—The organisation of these two new Squadrons is progressing. No. 1 Squadron will receive one complete flight in personnel (less officers) from No. 2 Squadron as soon as the latter arrive at Montrose. No. 2 Squadron has been training a flight with this object in view. Aircraft Park. Farnborough.—Repair work on Aircraft and Mechanical Transport and technical training of recruits was carried out daily. Headquarter Flight. Farnborough.—Experiments of various kinds were continued, in connection with which a considerable amount of flying took place. Recruits Depot. Farnborough.—There are now over 100 recruits "on the Square," divided up into 5 squads. The initial 780 elevators, &c, are re-covered and doped. Across the road, at the far end of D Flight aeroplane sheds is the rigging or " construction " shop, |in which are three full-size skeleton aeroplanes. Two of these were assembled and the third was being prepared for erection by the officers forming the class. This work is an important part of the curriculum, as in addition to familiarising those under training with the constructional details of the machines, it also renders them thoroughly conversant with the manner in which aeroplanes are assembled, trued up and repaired. The instructor (Engineer-Lieut. Breeze) alters the adjustment of the bracing as he considers desirable, or breaks a certain part of a wing, &c.,and the alterations necessary or the repair required are effected by the members of the class under instruction. In some cases the machines (which it is hardly necessary to say are used solely for this purpose) are dismantled, re-built and trued up several times by a single class. (To be concluded.) ® ® training of recruits is of a wide scope, and includes, in addition to courses of instruction in technical duties connected with the main tenance of aircraft and mechanical transport, drill, physical training, musketry, athletics, boxing, lectures and practical instruction in first aid, sanitation, field cooking and map reading, lectures on military discipline, and the organisation of the Army, particularly of the Royal Flying Corps (M.W.). THE DISASTER AT GOSPORT. IT is with the greatest regret that we have to record the accident which cost the life of Lieut. L. C. Hordern on Monday last. The deceased officer was attached to No. 5 Squadron of the Military Wing of the R.F.C., which has just been transferred to Fort Grange, Gosport, and he was flying a 80 h.p. H. Farman biplane, with Sergeant Campbell as passenger. The latter sustained a broken leg, but it is progressing as well as can be expected. At the inquest on Wednesday, Lieut. H. M. Brock said that he watched the machine go away in a westerly direction'two or three miles. On its approaching the fort again from the west he heard the engine stop and saw the biplane glide down from a height of 800 ft. in what developed into a very sensational spiral. He realised there was something wrong. The machine made three and a quarter com plete left-handed circles before striking the ground. He came to the immediate conclusion that the rudder control had jammed, but later inspection of the machine on the ground revealed nothing to show that any of the controls had jammed. The machine was fitted with dual control which could be used by either the pilot or observer, but it was a recognised practice that the observer was never to touch the controls. He was of opinion that either the pilot or observer got one of his feet jammed in the rudder bars. Lieut. Brock added that he flew the machine on Friday, when there was some irregularity due to the rtidder bar, but that had been put right. Similar evidence was given by Major Higgins and Capt. Grey, and the jury returned a verdict of " Acci dental Death," adding an expression of opinion that better medical provision should be made at the Fort Grange flying centre.
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
