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Aviation History
1919
1919 - 1626.PDF
DECEMBER 18, 1919 TRANSATLANTIC VICKERS-VIMY AT SOUTH KENSINGTON ON Monday last the new Aeronautics Section of the Science Museum at South Kensington was inaugurated with the formal presentation to the nation by the Vickers and Rolls- Royce firms of the Vickers-Vimy-Rolls machine, on which Captain Sir John Alcock flew across the Atlantic. Dr. F. G. Ogilvie, Director of the Science Museum, presided, in the absence of the President of the Board of Education. Sir Richard Glazebrook, representing Sir Hugh Bell, Chairman of the Advisory Council, congratulated Messrs. Vickers upon the fact of the Atlantic flight and also on Captain Ross-Smith's successful flight to Australia. He pointed out that the object of the exhibition was not merely to get together a collection of historical models, but, further, to show how science could help industry and commerce in the be carried to Australia within a week ; that would really be a most astonishing first product of war. Mr. Claude Johnson said the engines were designed by Mr. Royce, engineer and chief designer to Messrs. Rolls- Royce, Ltd. A book had been got together containing memoranda on design by Mr. Royce and his designers, and it was known familiarly as the " Rolls-Royce Bible." A copy of it was given to every engineer who entered the works. It showed the tremendous amount of thought it was necessary to give to the subject in order to arrive at a successful engine. He hoped a monument would be erected to commemorate the flight, and that it would be placed, not in the wilds of the west of Ireland, but in London. In accepting the aeroplane on behalf of the nation, Dr '* : | - Jf^nLir •HI — The historical start from Newfoundland of the Vickers Vimy-Rolls machine for the Atlantic crossing J future. It was gratifying to know that the Government were seriously taking up the question of research. On behalf of Messrs. Vickers, Mr. Douglas Vickers said that the machine would form an historical landmark. It was not in any sense a special machine, but only one of a large number designed during the War for the bombing of Berhn. They were not ready until the last month of the War. In crossing the Atlantic it carried a certain number of special navigating instruments and a special petrol tank. With those exceptions, it was practically a war machine built twelve months ago. It had had to be slightly repaired, because it landed in an Irish bog, and had to be dragged out. The curio-hunter was there and made booty of certain portions of the machine—so that that was not the only place where relics of the Atlantic machine would be shown. Perhaps the flight to Australia was greater than the Atlantic achieve ment. It showed that, with relays of machines, letters might Ogilvie said that he had received a message from the Prince of Wales, who hoped to see it at an early date. Apart from this centre-piece there are already many interesting exhibits on view. They include a replica of Montgolfier's balloon of 1783, two models of the early Wright machines, and one of Stringfellow's, and a set of model Sopwith aeroplanes. There is also to be seen Mr. McEvoy's portrait of Sir John Alcock, a wind channel which demon strates how lift is obtained by the movement of air beneath the aeroplane, and several Zeppelin relics. Mr. Douglas Vickers later presided at a luncheon givea at the Hyde Park Hotel by Messrs. Vickers, Ltd. Mr. Fisher, High Commissioner for Australia, responding to the toast of " The Closer Bond Between the Mother Country and Australia," said that Captain Ross-Smith's machine would never return to this country ; it would be kept in Australia. The Atlantic Flight: Pre sentation of the Vickers Vimy-Rolls-Royce aero plane to the nation. At the ceremony at the Science Museum, South Kensington, on December 15. On the platform, from the left, are Sir Richard Glazebrook, Sir Robert E. Cooper, Mr. Andrew Fisher, Sir John Alcock, Mr. Douglas Vickers, Dr. F. G. Ogilvie (Museum Curator), Mr. Claude Johnson, Air- Marshal Salmond, Col. Lyons, Mr. W. Longridge "Flight" Copyright. 1628
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