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Aviation History
1924
1924 - 0634.PDF
OCTOBER 2, 1924 TV05EMffillGHTttANE OMPEHUCNS AT- LYMPNE Lympne, Monday THE eliminating trials in the two-seater light 'plane competi tions have proved somewhat of a surprise. Contrary to expectations, quite a number of the machines entered have failed to pass these tests, and in consequence the number of competitors who will be taking part in the tests themselves has been reduced from the original number of 18 to a bare 8. Certainly nobody expected these apparently simple trials to prove a stumbling-block to more than a very few, and the fact that so many machines failed came as a very great disappointment. In fact it may truly be said to have caused consternation. It seems fairly clear that nobody, not even the competitors themselves, had anticipated any difficulty in passing the simple eliminating trials, and everybody turned up on Saturdav morning expecting to do the folding tests and the two laps of the course which would entitle them to commence this morning on the really serious part of the competitions. The transport tests, and the -demonstration of folding and re-erecting the machines caused no difficulty, but when it came to doing the flying tests it proved quite a different matter. To begin with, engines had in very many cases been delivered late, and there had been but little opportunity of testing them out thoroughly in the machines. In other cases engines which had hitherto behaved very well suddenly took it into their heads to refuse to start, and generally proved as temperamental as any thoroughbred. The result was that on Saturday but one machine passed its flying tests, which consisted in flying two circuits of the triangular course of. 12 J miles, the pilot occupying the front and rear seat alternately. This machine was No. 4, the Beardmore " Wee Bee I," piloted by Piercey. The Westland " Widgeon " came to grief during the day and was badly damaged. Fortunately the pilot escaped with a shaking. There was a very strong and gusty wind blowing at the time, and when the Westland monoplane was close to the hillside, near the Postling turning point, it got into a down-current which, apparently, was a little stronger than the climbing rate of the machine. In spite of frantic attempts to make the machine climb, it lost height in the down-current, and in attempting to turn close to the ground a wing tip caught, and the machine did the usual " cart wheel " and smashed itself up very decisively. It was feared for a time that the pilot was seriously injured, and there was great relief when news came through that he was safe. Bad weather and sulky engines were the main causes of the failure of all but the one competitor to get through the eliminating tests on Saturday. On Sunday the weather was a good deal better, with sunshine and generally fair weather, although there was still a considerable amount of wind. As this was the last day for passing the eliminating tests, all the remaining competitors were busy getting their engines in trim, and putting finishing touches to the machines. Fate had, however, decreed that but a relatively few should get through, and at the end of the day only the following had passed and were admitted to the main competitions : No. 1, the Bristol " Brownie " ; No. 3, the Cranwell " C.L.A.2 " ; No. 5, the Westland " Wood Pigeon " ; Nos. 14 and 15, the THE LYMPNE LIGHT 'PLANE TRIALS*: General view of the aerodrome from the enclosure1 634
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