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Aviation History
1922
1922 - 0273.PDF
MAY II, 1922 THE "FIRST EXPERIMENTAL CONGRESS FOR MOTORLESS FLIGHT" French Soaring and Gliding Competition I ONE result of the German soaring and gliding competitions in the Rhon mountains has been the arousing of a general interest in this form of flying all over the world. Last year's Rhon flights demonstrated that it is possible to remain aloft for considerable periods without the aid of any power plant, I and that during such flights it is occasionally possible for a j machine to reach altitudes considerably greater than that of i the starting point. • For this year a very extensive competi- 4' tion has been planned, and in order not. to be outdone by Germany in this phase of flying, France has decided to organise a meeting for motorless aircraft in the vicinity of Clermont-Ferrand, Auveigne. The actual scene of the competition will be Puy de Combegrasse, south-wesf of Clermont-Ferrand. The meeting, which is to extend over a period of 14 days—from August 6 to August 20—is to be organised by the French Aerial Association and the Aero Club of Auvergne, and is under the patronage of the French Under-Secretary of State for Air, M. Laurent-Eynac. Prizes to a total amount of 100,000 francs will be awarded, and the competition is open to French as well as Allied and neutral pilots and machines. The machines must be of the heavier-than air type, and must not be provided with any form of power plant. The Duratioti Flights.—Four prizes, of 5,000 francs, 3,000 francs, 1,500 francs and 1,000 francs, will be awarded in this section, in which competitors must start from the Puy de Combe grasse, but may fly in any desired direction and alight at any point. The machines must remain in the air for more than three minutes in order to qualify for these prizes. Prizes will also be awarded for aggregate duration, all flights made, in whatever section, counting towards this, so long as they are of more than 30 seconds duration. The prizes are 5,000 francs, 3,000 francs, 2,000 francs 1,000 francs and 500 franc.'. Distance Flights.—Two prizes are to be awarded in this section, one of 10,000 francs and one of 5,000 francs. The distance between starting and alighting points will be measured by a straight line joining the two points on the map. Competitors will normally start from the Puy de Combegrasse, but under special conditions the judges may permit competitors to start from the Puy de Dome. The minimum distances required are 2 kilometres and 5 kilometres respectively. Minimum Rate of Descent.—M. Louis Breguet has placed 10,000 francs at the disposal of th" organisers for the purpose .*. Puy de Combe- gg grasse, near Clermont- '& Ferrand, the g? scene of the forth- -coming "First S? Experimental Congress of Motorless gg Flight." This meeting, which »* will be under the ^ patronage of M. Laurent - Eynac, M French Under- ~, Secretary of State for Air, is to be |g held from August „ 6toAugust20,and m prizes amounting 35 to 100,000 francs will be awarded. ^ pilot mav, however, use his muscular power to assist Iris machine, so that a combination of glider and " Aviette " will not be barred. Entries should be sent to the Secretary.. Association Franiaise Aerienm. 17, Boulevard des Batignolks, Paris, 8e. The entrance fee is 50 francs per machine for entries which reach the Secretary before May 31, 100 francs for entries between June 1 and July 15, the closing date for entering. Entrance fees will be returned to competitors whose machines are at the scene of the competition on the opening day. Accompanying the entrance form a side view and a description of the machine should be sent in, so as to enable the organisers to make provision for proper garaging. Machines will be examined by competent judges, and must satisfy them as to structural strength and general aerodynamic qualities. Pilots, before being allowed to compete, will be required to give a demonstration of their skill by remaining aloft for at least 10 seconds. Competitors may commence practice flights and preli minary tests from August 1. During the actual competitions machines must carry sealed barographs, provided by the National Meteorological Office, and a representative of that institution will be present to instruct competitors in the reading of graphs. The Competitions The meeting at Clermont-Ferrand will be devoted to various competitions, or, as the official programme modestly f erms them, experiments. of encouraging machines with a slow rate of descent. The amounts are to be divided as follows :—First, 5,000 francs ; second, 2,500 ; third, 1,500 : and fourth, i,o6"o francs. In order to qualify in this section, competitors must indicate before the start the point at which they intend to alight, and must then make a landing within 200 metres of this poin+. The time in the air must be more than two minutes, and the rate of descent be less than 1.50 metres (4.9 ft.) per second. If L is the difference in height (in metres) between starting and alighting point, and t the duration in seconds of the flight, the mean rate of descent will be y in metres per second. L L must therefore be less than 1.5, or t greater than— • Altitude Flights.—Three prizes, of 5,000 francs, 3,000 francs and 1,500 francs, are to be awarded for reaching altitudes greater than that of the starting point. Competitors must start from the Combegrasse, but may alight anywhere. For ascertaining the altitudes reached, use will be made of the barographs carried on the machines, or of any other method which the judges may select. Alighting at Predetermined Point,—One series of tests will comprise alighting at a predetermined spot, the judges select ing each day three different points, according to the wind direction, situated at least 500 metres from the Puy de Combegrasse. Competitors must state beforehand at which 273
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