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Aviation History
1919
1919 - 1252.PDF
SEPTEMBER 18, 1919 his starting time for the race will be taken." On asking how the starting signal would be given, I was informed that it would be given from the Committee boat, and each machine would start at one minute intervals, but details would be explained on the day of the race. On the day of the race at about 1 p.m. I went on board the Committee boat, and was informed that the starting arrangements had been altered, and that the official starter would come alongside each machine in a launch, instructing them when to start, and that his actual time would be taken from the time he crossed the line, and the interval between the machines would be increased. This was all the informa tion I could get, and nothing whatever was given in writing. At 2.30 p.m. we were ready to start, but the fog coming down over Bournemouth a postponement was made, after some time the fog at Bournemouth lifting, a motor launch with no distinguishing marks on it whatever, came round and somebody shouted to me that we were to start in a quarter of an hour's time. On my asking whether this meant that the race would start or our machine would start in a quarter of an hour, the only answer I could get was a shrug of the shoulders. This launch had not gone a minute before another launch also without any distinguishing marks came alongside and said we were to start in half an hour ; again I asked the same question, whether it meant the race or our machine, and the answer was they did not know. Owing to the conflicting instructions, Mr. Scott-Paine, in one of our launches, went over to the Committee boat, and shortly returned with the information that all starting arrangements had again been altered, and that as far as he could gather the new procedure was to be as follows :— Five minutes before the start of the first machine, a red flag was to be raised, after 4 mins. 45 sees, it would be dipped, and at the end of the five minutes would be raised again, thus giving the signal to start ; this was to be repeated for each machine. Naturally, I expected that this signal would be given from the Committee boat; but actually, as I subsequently found out, it was given from a motor launch with the official starter on board. As far as Hobbs was concerned, he saw nothing whatever of any of the red flags, and it was only through Mr. Scott-Paine being alongside the starting launch in his own launch, and obtaining from them permission to start, and his then waving his cap to Hobbs indicating that he could come, that any start was made by us at all. Incidentally, Mr. Scott-Paine tells me that the start was just as complete a fiasco for the other machines as it was for us; the Fairey apparently started when the red flag first went up instead of waiting for his five minute flag, and owing to the second and third machines not being there, and the Sopwith not being up to time, we were sent off at some odd time as a result of Mr. Scott-Paine asking the starter whether we might go. Now to come to another point, viz., the discourtesy to the foreign machines. Whether the Committee had or had not made any arrangements to look after them I do not know ; what I do know is that on their arrival at Bournemouth they were simply left to drift about without having anybody moving a hand to help them. Seeing the S.P.A.D. just on the point of drifting on to a boat at anchor, I got hold of him and secured a boat which I got to tow him, and make him fast to one of our own moorings. After this I was unable to do anything more, as Hobbs had just arrived, but I went over to the Committee boat and informed them of what was happening, and you can judge my surprise when I was in formed by one of the Committee that it was nothing to do with him. [After making some very strong remarks in regard to starting the race at all under the conditions, Com. Bird continues:J I mysell and Com. Hobbs had both warned members of the Committee early in the day that the mark boat at Swanage could not be seen, and that the fog in that locality was very dangerous, and furthermore, Mr. Scott-Paine, when the instructions for the race were given, strongly protested that conditions were unsafe, and that from our long experience of flying and sailing in the locality, we all knew that there was no chance of the fog lifting under the weather conditions prevailing. JAMES BIRD. The Supermarine Aviation Works, Ltd. Southampton, September 15. Aerodromes for Civil Use THE following lists of aerodromes are issued as an addition to the lists recently published. It may be seen that in the majority of cases the aerodromes referred to below can only be considered as possible emergency landing grounds. Attention is again drawn to the fact that these lists are purely provisional and subject to alteration or amendment from time to time. LIST D (C).—Aerodromes licenced as suitable for " Avro (504 if) and similar types of aircraft " only. Except in very few instances accommodation does not exist. The licences have also been issued for limited periods only. Aerodrome. Nearest railway station. Nearest town. Aylesbury (Race Aylesbury.. ..Aylesbury. Meadow) Conway (The Morfa) Conway .. .. Conway. Ashgate (Caushouse Chesterfield .. Chesterfield. Farm) Leicester (Aylestone Leicester .. .. Leicester. Lane) Derby (Race Course) Derby .. .. Derby. Marden .. .. Cullercoats .. Newcastle-cm-Tyne. Stratford-on-A von.. Stratford-on-Avon Stratford-on-Avon. Lochee Park .. Dundee .. .. Dundee. Perth (North Inch) Perth .. .. Perth. Warrington .. Warrington ...Warrington. Stoke-on-Trent Stoke-on-Trent .. Stoke-on-Trent. (Sparrow Terrace) LIST E (a).—Stations no longer in use by the R.A.F. These stations have been passed to the Government Sur plus Property Disposal Board. They will be relinquished as soon as the Government property thereon has been dis posed of. In many cases the aerodromes are now under cultivation, but it is probable that the sites still form the best emergency landing grounds in the immediate neighbourhood. Aerodrome. Nearest railway station. Nearest town. Hickling Broad (s) Catfield .. .. Yarmouth. Killingholme .. Habrough .. Grimsby. London Colney .. Radlett .. .. St. Albans. Shoreham .. .. Shoreham .. Shoreham-by-Sea. Seaton Carew .. Seaton Carew .. West Hartlepool. References : (s) Seaplane station, (c) Known to be under cultivation or otherwise unsuitable for landing. Relinquishment of R.A.F. Stations IT has been decided to relinquish and dispose of the following R.A.F. stations, and arrangements are being made accordingly :— Wight, Cowes (aerodrome), London Colney (aerodrome), Beaulieu (aerodrome), Lydd (Balloon School), Dover (sea plane station ; temporarily transferred to Admiralty). International Air Convention Approved THE Air Ministry announce that the Convention relating to International Air Navigation was formally approved, subject to one or two minor reservations, by the Supreme Council of the Peace Conference, at a meeting held at St. Germains immediately after the signature of the Peace Treaty with Austria on September 10. This document, which is one of the most interesting of the agreements made by the Powers taking part in the Peace Conference, is very comprehensive, and deals amongst other things with such subjects as sovereignty of the air, space above territory and territorial waters, international air law, nationality of aircraft, certificates of airworthiness, conditions of admission of air navigation above foreign territory, rules to be observed on departure, on landing and when under way, prohibited articles and the institution of an international commission for air navigation. There was little or no precedent.to guide the delegates in the framing of the Convention, and in its drafting it was essential that our Dominions, our Allies and as many as possible of the neutral States should participate. To secure agreement in n weeks as was done on a subject affecting so many different interests is no mean achievement. The signatories to what may be regarded as the Charter for Civil Aviation throughout the world are as follows :—United States, Great Britain, France, Italy, Japan, Belgium, Brazil, Cuba, Greece, Portugal, Rumania, Serbia. R;A.F. Pigeons to be Demobilised IT is announced that the Air Ministry had decided to dispense with the R.A.F. pigeon service which, during the War, did splendid service in bringing assistance to stranded pilots. We believe that all the pigeons used during the War were presented by fanciers to the Government. 1254
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