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Aviation History
1919
1919 - 1223.PDF
SEPTEMBER II, iaio Napier Lion engine mounted fairly high in the gap. Apart from the centre section struts there is only one pair of struts on each side, and these are sloped outwards on account of the slightly greater span of the top plane. Just as we are going to press we learn that the officials of the Royal Aero Club have decided that the Avro must stand down, as only three machines from each country are allowed to take part in the race. Next week we hope to be able to publish a full account of the race. Cowes, Tuesday, Sept. 9. By Our Special Commissioner. As a result of an elimination trial between the Avro-Puma seaplane and the Supermarine flying-boat on Monday, the former has had to " stand down," and the Supermarine has been selected as the third machine to represent this country in the Schneider International Seaplane Race. Purely from the point of view of speed, the Avro machine was, if anything, the faster, but the Supermarine boat gained on points chiefly as regards getting off and alighting. Today the Supermarine boat was out for a spin over Southampton Water and Calshot, and appeared to be tremendously fast. The Sopwith seaplane, 450 h.p. Cosmos " Jupiter," has also been flying, and is undoubtedly the fastest of the machines entered. The Fairey seaplane is all ready for tomorrow's race. The Italian representative, the " Savoia" flying boat, with 250 h.p. Isotta-Fraschini engine, is also at Cowes. She is similar to the standard S 13, except that she is a single- seater, and the wing area has been reduced, there being now only one pair of struts on each side. The boat is flat-sided and with a single step. The boat bottom is somewhat different from that of our boats in that it is slightly concave just in front of the step instead of having a Vee bottom. The I.F. engine is a very clean-looking job, and it has an immensely healthy roar. This machine also is very fast, and when taxying along the sea appears to make far less spray than our boats, probably on account of the hollow bottom and flat sides. The French Spad is a monocoque body tractor seaplane, COMMERCIAL - BREAN DOWN, SOMERSET RECENTLY in spite of the weather conditions often being anything but pleasant, a large number of passengers have been taken up—the majority being ladies—at the Brean Down Aerodrome, near Burnham-on-Sea, where the Warwick Aviation Co. have two Airco 6 machines in use. The low fares of 10s. 6d. and 215. and the free flight system have attracted many visitors from Weston-super-Mare, Burnham, and the surrounding country. The pilots, Lieut. W. A. Warwick, Lieut. H. A. Yeo, and Lieut. F. V. Webb, late of the R.A.F., have each seen extensive active service in France. Up to the present no stunting has been carried out, but it is hoped that another machine will be available shortly for this purpose. BRIGHTON DURING the week ending September 6, the Avro machines made 50 flights from their aerodrome and 100 passengers were carried. The weather was very indifferent all the week, and it was impossible to fly for some part of every day. On Saturday afternoon passengers were taken up at Chichester, and a cross-country trip from Brighton to Chichester and return with two passengers was made. HOUNSLOW DURING the week the Avros made 85 flights and took up 149 passengers. Cross-country flights made included one to Margate, one to Weston-super-Mare, two to Brooklands and one to Woolwich and return. On the 8th inst., an officer of the Guards chartered an Avro at Hounslow and flew to Hythe, starting at 7 a.m., to be in time for a Musketry Course which commenced there that morning. The Avro Co. is not running any regular service to the Continent, but in its capacity as " Air Taxi " is always ready to take passengers there when they want to go. Its first flight to Paris was made on Saturday, 6th inst., when the Avro Limousine, piloted by Capt. R. T. Fagan, D.F.C., left Houns- 12 with two long floats. These have Vee bottoms both in front of and behind the step. The under-carriage strutting is rather unusual, and, although apparently very strong, could probably be simplified with advantage. This machine is rather unlike the usual Spad land machine, having a single I-strut on each side, while its top plane has a pronounced sweep back, the bottom plane being straight. The engine is a 300 h.p. Hispano-Suiza, with the radiator mounted in the nose. The Nieuports have had very hard luck. Both the original machines were crashed during trial flights over the Seine, and a spare machine, piloted by Casale, actually made the trip from France to Cowes in i\ hours, only to come to grief by striking a buoy outside Cowes. The floats were smashed, and the machine was standing with its tail in the air and the engine submerged when Lieut. Casale was picked up. However, the machine was salved, and is now at Saunders' sheds, having a new engine and floats fitted, while the Saunders works are busy rebuilding the wings. Everybody is working like Trojans, Saunders' men no less than the Nieuport mechanics, and it is confidently expected that the Nieuport will be ready tomorrow in time for the race. This machine also has a monocoque body, with fin and tail plane built integral. It has floats very similar to those of the Spad. The 300 h.p. Hispano-Suiza engine is all but streamlined off by the nose of the body, the two radiators, of very unusual design, looking for all the world like lobster pots, being mounted on the undercarriage struts, below the body. The Nieuport looks speedy, but I have not seen her in the air yet. Another Nieuport, piloted by Malard, is now rumoured to be on its way from France, but at the time of writing it has not turned up. Tonight the Saunders sheds at Cowes are the scene of great activity, and everybody is full of praise of the sporting way in which Mr. Saunders has placed not only his sheds, but his workshops at the disposal of competitors. All manner of adjustments and repairs can be, and are being, carried out which would have been next to impossible under less favour able conditions. Everything points to a very good race tomorrow, and the weather is fine, and looks like remaining so for a day or two. ^ 0 low at 4.50 a.m. carrying two Norwegian gentlemen. A non stop flight was made and Le Bourget was reached at 7.35 a.m. —-an excellent flight of 2 hours 45 mins. PAIGNTON Although flying was possible only on two days last Week, the Avro seaplanes made 46 flights, and carried 76 passengers. Cross-country flights were made to Teignmouth and Babba- combe. This week the Avros have had an exceptionally busy time. On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, special trips were made over H.M.S. Queen Elizabeth and H.M.S. Lion, moored in Torbiy. On the first day 70 passengers wjre taken up, and at least 50 on each of the other days. MARGATE. FLYING on an Avro at Margate, under the supervision of Capt. Duncan Davis, is quite the most popular and delightful sport of the season, and 273 passengers have thoroughly enjoyed their air trips this past week. Many enthusiast were over 60 years of age, and several under 6. There were also a number of celebrities, including a well-known M.P. and his son. Tea is served on the aerodrome, which makes an afternoon at Manston a very pleasant affair. At Heme Bay, there are hundreds of spectators, and always many passengers waiting their turn. In this coming week, flights are being given around the Fleet for £3, and already many trips have been booked. WINDERMERE. IN the last two weeks the Avro seaplanes at Windermere have been chiefly engaged with carrying the Daily News to Douglas. They completed their contract last Wednesday. After delivering the papers to Douglas for this last time, Capt. Pixton filled up with petrol and flew over to Port Erin and took up a few passengers there. Unfortunately, he could only manage a few, owing to lack of petrol, and being short- handed, with no local organisation. So he had to disappoint a great many. One passenger at Port Erin booked a passage to Windermere, calling in at Douglas on the way. s
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