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Aviation History
1915
1915 - 0833.PDF
OCTOBER 29, 1915. Barrs in a moment had camera in position and pressed the button. The result is shown in one of the photo graphs. Taking both hands off the controls Barrs then calmly changed his plate and took a snap of the trans mission gear. All the while the 'bus was flying by herself. As the photograph shows, there is no vibration noticeable, although the speed at which the chain was travelling is stated by the Mann and Grimmer firm to have been something like 20 m.p.h. These chains, by the way, have recently been examined at the works of the makers, Messrs. Hans Renold of Manchester, and it was found that the stretch of each, if indeed there had been any, was not noticeable. This after having trans mitted the 125 h.p. of the Anzani engine for a run that is stated by the makers of the machine to have been over 600 miles. But of course they are Renold's chains. Enough said. xxx When passing the offices of the L. and P. Aviation Co. in Colindale Avenue the other day I caught a glimpse at one of the windows of a face which, although familiar, was not filed in the pigeon-holes of my memory as particularly associated with Hendon, On opening the door I was greeted with the smiling face of one Fletcher, until recently with the Martinsyde firm at Brooklands, but who has now transferred his activity to the L. and P. Co. By way of explaining his unexpected presence up Hendon- way Mr. Fletcher planked down a pile of drawings, which on closer examination proved to be the general arrange ment and some details of a new machine for the L. and P. Co. Judging from the drawings it promises well. Nothing fanciful, you understand, but just a good, sound, straightforward job, which, backed up by the excellent workmanship rigorously maintained at the L. and P. shops, should prove a valuable asset to the school. XXX Reference has been made from time to time to the developments at the Thomas Bros.' works at Ithaca, N.Y., from where two new types of machines will soon make their first appearance. One of these is the first of the new seaplanes fitted with a Sturtevant motor, that are being constructed for the U.S. Navy. The other is a ® ® German Bombs on Switzerland. THE Political Department of the Swiss Confederation published the following communique' on October 24th :— "The German Minister today informed the Political Department that a military inquiry has proved that the aeroplane which bom barded Chaux de Fonds was German, and that the pilot had completely lost his way, and believed that he was over French territory. The aviator and the observer have both been transferred and punished, and German air squadrons have once more been warned against flying over Swiss territory. Aviators have also received the strictest orders not to throw bombs except when they are without any possible doubt over enemy territory. " Trie German Imperial Note expresses to the Federal Council its deep regret for the incident and also to the injured persons, and further promises to pay an indemnity for the damage done and in recognition of the moral wrong. A Note in this sense has been handed to the Swiss Minister in Berlin." Zeppelins and British Submarines. ... , REPORTS from Copenhagen show that Zeppelins and aeroplanes have again been searching the Baltic for British submarines. Un the morning of the 20th aeroplanes off Sassnitz observed a submarine flotilla, two of the submarines being not far from the ordinary Sassnitz-Trelleborg route. The aeroplanes signalled to a Zeppelin, which in turn warned the naval station at Sassmtz. £«»« torpedo-boats immediately started in pursuit, but the submarines had submerged by the time they arrived on the scene. German Aircraft Losses in the Baltic. „„„:„_ oau„e ACCORDING to information published m the town Bou™ Gazette the German losses in aircraft in the Baltic region to date (TOGHT] Military tractor, type 1>2, which will be fitted with one of the new Thomas Aeromotors, 135 h.p. The first of the batch of these engines coming through the works has, I am told, done well on the test bench, where it has been run, on and off, daily during the last few weeks, in order to discover if there are any weak points. It is said to have developed on occasions as much as 150 h.p., but for continuous work the makers recommend to run it at a speed at which it will develop 135 h.p. XXX In connection with the testing of these new Thomas machines it will be of interest to " PuOHT " readers to hear that the pilot who has been chosen for the job of putting them through their trials is no other than our old friend Walter L. Brock. There will be very few readers who will fail to remember the little Chicago pilot who, in the summer of 1914, "chewed" his way to victory in the greatest British races, the Aerial 1 >erby, the London-Manchester-London, and the London- Paris-London. Brock, it may be recalled, returned to his native land during the earlier part of the war, and was entered for the big American race that never materialised. Since then little has been heard of him over here until now in the capacity already mentioned, for which he is eminently suitable. As a pilot of land machines, Brock has had extensive experience of a number of types, including Deperdussins, Ble'riots, and Moranes. As a seaplane pilot he did some very good work on Capt. Bass's Curtiss flying-boat down in the Mediterranean, in the interval between leaving the British I >eperdussin firm and joining up with the Grahame-White Aviation Co. XXX It is welcome news to hear that that other old-time Dep. pilot, Capt. Norman Spratt, who had been previously reported missing, is now known to be a prisoner of war. That's bad enough, but it's better than having your ticket cancelled for all time. It has not yet transpired whether or not Spratt is wounded or injured, but at any rate it is good to hear that he is alive. All going well, we shall therefore hope to see him amongst us once more some day. "Mows." ® ® consist of two Zeppelins, four Albatros and twelve Taube aero planes, and one hydroplane. A Protest from the Pope. IT was reported from Kome on Tuesday that the Pope had telegraphed to the Patriarch of Venice for details of the Austrian air bombardment, and that he intends to protest against the wanton destruction of churche«. Transporting a German aeroplane by road. 833
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