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Aviation History
1915
1915 - 0147.PDF
FEBRUARY 26, 1915. MARCEL DESOUTTER, whom I ran up against at the aero drome the other day, told me that he is as busy as can be on the manufacture of the new and very light artificial leg which he invented some months since, and the excellence of which he has now himself thoroughly tested, as he has been using one of them for quite a long time now. It must be a great consolation to Desoutter to know that, although prevented by the loss of this member from taking an active part in the fighting, he is doing a great amount of good by supplying not only some of his unfortunate fellow pilots, but also others who have had the hard luck to lose one of their lower limbs, with what is probably one of the finest artificial substitutes in existence. XXX The new " Mann " biplane, to which reference was made in " Eddies " a short time ago, was taken up for a couple of spins round the aerodrome and out over the Edgware road on the morning of Saturday last. The "man at the helm" was Mr. Rowland Ding, of the Northern Aircraft Co. After a preliminary circuit of the aerodrome, Mr. Ding made a slightly wider turn out over the houses round Collindale Avenue, and to demonstrate the stability of the new machine, flew it on one occa sion for about a minute with his hands away above his head. Although the Anzani engine was not at its full power, chiefly due to the fact that the control wire had stretched somewhat, thus preventing the pilot from fully opening the throttle, the machine seemed to climb well, and the speed registered on the Ogilvie air-speed indi cator was 55 to 60 miles per hour. This figure, in Mr. Ding's opinion, should be raised to well over 70 miles per hour when the engine has been properly tuned up. As to the stability of the new Mann, Mr. Ding seemed altogether pleased with it, and in this connection it should not be forgotten that Ding has been used to having a very easy time at the control-wheel of the Handley-Page biplane, so that when he says that a new machine is stable, you may be assured that it is no dunce at its work. Mr. Mann is to be congratulated on the way in which he has solved a by no means easy problem of designing a fuselage biplane in which a gun can be mounted right in the nose of the body, where it can be fired through a very wide arc. It is to be hoped that the demonstrations of this machine, which will, I take it, be carried out as soon as everything is properly tuned up, will result in a substantial batch of orders, for it certainly seems to have great possibilities as a fighting biplane. In regard to illustrations of this new mount, well, you must just ask the Censor about them—you see, we have a due regard to the country's Imperial interests just now, and take no chances of helping our enemies. When the Censar says "go," why you may expect to have some interesting details of the Mann up to FLIGHT standard. xxx Both visitors and habitues had the chance to see another new machine making her first efforts at Hendon last week, when one of the new Curtiss tractors, similar to the type described in FLIGHT of December nth last, having arrived was soon erected and in flying order, the pilot forthwith giving her a preliminary trial. I was not fortunate enough to witness the flights, but heard after wards that the engine was in a somewhat sulky mood, so that the first flights should really not be taken as a [fyGHT] criterion of what these machines are capable of doing. A brief inspection gives a favourable impression of its general lines. The body is very roomy in front, and almost totally encloses the 90-100 h.p. Curtiss engine, in front of which is mounted the radiator. The propeller appears to be somewhat on the small side, but I have no doubt that it is in reality quite big enough, and that this impression was simply caused by the fact that it is of a slightly different type to those usually seen on machines of British design. The two cockpits, for pilot and observer, looked very roomy and comfortable, and the long exhaust pipes, one on each side of the body, should effectively prevent any of the gases from being blown back into the faces of the occupants. On the whole, the Curtiss tractor is a very businesslike looking affair, and certainly far ahead of most of the specimens of American- designed biplanes that I have happened to come across, xxx I have had occasion from time to time of commenting on the regularity with which Mr. Birchenough takes Henry and Maurice Farmans across to Farnborough. Saturday last must, I should think, be a bit of a record, however. Starting off from Hendon in the morning on a Maurice Farman, accompanied by Mr. C. Gresswell, the Aircraft Company's able manager, Birchenough steered her over to Farnborough, where she was put through her trials. Early in the afternoon he and Mr. Gresswell returned on the De Havilland gun-'bus, and later in the afternoon Birchenough was off again on a Henry, after giving a few demonstrations of the steep banks for which he is now famous. Both he and Gresswell looked a bit cold round the nose on their return from Farnborough, so I hope that Mr. de Havilland will hurry up with that heating arrangement of his for keeping the nacelle warm and cosy during this delightful weather. xxx Flight-Sergeant A. E. Barrs, R.F.C., who has now practically recovered after his accident in France, is, he tells me, re-joining the Flying Corps on March 3rd, and hopes to be sent out to the front again before long, so it seems that the injury to his leg, whatever other effects it may have had, has certainly not resulted in cold feet. Barrs tells me that that other old-time Hendon favourite, Reginald Carr, is back on leave for a few days, but that he is so busy calling on his many friends, that it is almost impossible to get hold of him, but at any rate he is well and happy, and will be going back to the front in a few days' time. xxx Talking about Carr reminds me of " Lizzie " and the evolutions performed by these two in the good old days. Although " Lizzie " does not now indulge in looping, she has not yet by any means settled down to a steady trot ting round the course at Hendon, but seems to take a delight in doing steeply banked right and left hand spirals, piloted by her new owner, Mr. Graham, who handles her remarkably well, considering that he only took his ticket a little over a week ago. Practically the only part of his piloting which is not yet quite all that it might be, is the landing, but this is improving, and with a little more practice he should fulfil the expectations of his instructors. XXX I had an invitation the other day to look over the new offices of the L. and P. Aviation Co. in Collindale 147
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