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Aviation History
1914
1914 - 0812.PDF
l/yc*! JULY 31, 1914. IT appears that pupils at the Vickers school at Brooklands are not always content with merely passing the required tests when flying for their brevet, but that some of them have such confidence in their ability as pilots, after the thorough tuition they have received from the instructors of the school, that they frequently go far beyond the stipulations of the tests, just by way of making doubly sure of their efficiency in piloting. The same probably applies to pupils of other schools, but when it comes to "calling down" a pupil I should think that Mr, Barnwell can claim the distinction of being the first instructor to back up his authority with a machine gun. Quite recently a pupil when flying for his ticket, took one of the school machines up to an altitude of 3,700 feet. When he had reached a height of about 2,000 feet, and still showed no signs of intending to come down, and as the 'bus was wanted by another pupil, Mr. Barnwell gave chase on the gun-carrying biplane, presumably with the intention of opening fire if it was found impossible to bring the pupil down by gentler persuasive methods. For some time the two machines circled round and round, climbing steadily, before Barnwell could get near enough to attract the attention of the pupil, the latter shut off his engine, and came down in an excellent spiral vol plane. It was later ascertained that he had reached an altitude of 3,700 feet, a very fine performance considering that the machine was a school 'bus fitted with an engine of 50 h.p. only. XXX A new Vickers gun-carrying biplane made its first appearance at Brooklands last week. Mr. Barnwell had flown the older machine, which was described in FLIGHT a short time ago, over to the works at Joyce Green, and later returned on the new biplane, which had just left the stocks. In its general appearance the latest gun-carrier is a replica of the previous one, but several details have been altered. Head resistance has been reduced, wherever outrigger have been replaced by stranded cables, probably with a view to eliminate, as far as possible, any danger of breakage and consequent possibility of them getting entangled in the propeller. Constructionally, the machine is a beautiful piece of work, both as regards workmanship and finish, and aerodynamically it appears to be very efficient. Under the clever piloting of Mr. Barnwell, the new gun-carrier flies exceedingly well, and although it is The fuselage of the immense Martinsyde monoplane, showing central sections of wings in place. The wring extensions are considerably larger than these centre parts of the planes, to which they are secured by means of the lugs seen in the photograph. comparatively new it has already been put through all manner of tests. The first day this machine was in the air Mr. Barnwell, on his arrival at Brooklands, did some fancy flying before coming down, including spirals and most alarming banks, that is to say, banks which would have been alarming had the pilot been less experienced. XXX The enterprise and progress of the D.F.W. firm is a thing to be mar- The G.-W. waterplane, contracted for the Circuit of Britain, leaving Hendon for Southampton on Saturday last. possible, as for instance in the arrangement of the control cables. The rudder and elevator cables pass along the tail booms in the usual way, but are then taken round pulleys and run parallel with the bracing cables of the inner bay of the main planes, whilst the aileron cables are taken through fair leads on the leading edge of the lower plane. Instead of the rotatable hand-wheel with which the previous machine was fitted, a single central lever actuates the ailerons. The bracing wires in the tail 812 veiled at. No sooner have that firm turned out machines which beat world's altitude and distance records, that Mr. Kny tells me of a new machine which we may expect to see over here shortly. If it is found possible to get this new biplane finished in time, there is a possibility of it being entered for this year's Gordon-Bennett Race. Although I am not permitted to disclose details at present, I will take the risk of incurring Mr. Kny's wrath by informing my
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