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Aviation History
1913
1913 - 0067.PDF
JANUARY I8, 1913. several graceful circuits, he suddenly swooped down and effected a very clever landing right in front of his young friends, to whom he made a brief speech of welcome, after which he commenced to distribute his gifts with a lavish hand, each child carrying off a present. Nearly 400 children were participants, and they showed their appreciation by giving three hearty cheers for Santa Claus, and one for his flying machine. So perfectly was Mr. Merriam disguised by Messrs. Clarkson that his friends failed to recognise him. Owing to the time taken up in the distribution of the gifts, the racing programme had perforce to be considerably curtailed, and it was thus only possible to bring off a combined Quick Starting and Alighting Competition, which, appropriately enough, was won by Santa Claus himself (Mr. Merriam) on his Bristol biplane, Mr. Alcock on the Ducrocq-Farman biplane being second, and Mr. Pashley on the Sommer biplane third. Mr. Bendall made fastest time in the Quick Starting competition on the Bristol biplane, but was robbed of a prize by a miscalculation in landing. Mr. Spencer on a Spencer biplane also competed. For to-day (Saturday) an Altitude Competition has been arranged. Entrants : Mr. Barnwell and Mr. Knight (Vickers monoplanes) ; Mr. Merriam and Mr. Bendall (Bristol biplanes) ; Mr. Alcock (Ducrocq-Farman biplane). On Sunday a Bomb-Dropping Competition will be held, in which the following will take part : Mr. Merriam and Mr. Bendall (Bri-tol biplanes) ; Mr. Alcock (Ducrocq-Farman biplane); Mr. Spencer (Spencer biplane) ; Mr. Pashley (Sommer biplane) ; Mr. Knight (Vickers-Farman biplane). Bristol School.—Merriam was first out on Monday last week for a test, taking Mr. Archer as pissenger, then sitting behind Mr. Neville for several straights, this pupil showing signs of fine progress. Capt. Rickards went for a couple of solos, flying quite well, completing his first circuits in fine style. This same pupil was out later for three circuits, his solo and landing being made in fine style. Bendall was giving tuition to Messrs. Archer and Neville. School work was resumed after breakfast, Merriam taking Lieut. Blather wick, and then, with this pupil in pilot's seat, for several straights. Bendall was meanwhile out with Messrs. Archer and Neville, giving pupils several trips each. Capt. Rickards was out for a couple of solos, flying several circuits in really fine style. Merriam brought the morning's work to a conclusion by taking two pupils together for a circuit. As soon as rain had ceased, Bendall made a test in the afternoon, afterwards giving Mr. Archer a tuition flight. Merriam also out for solo, then as passenger to Lieut. Blatherwick and Mr. Neville on straights. Capt. Rickards carried out two excellent solos, making four circuits, his landings being quite good. Mr. Lane got in some good straight flights, whilst Bendall was out with Mr. Neville, but wind was too bad for further work. Flying could not be attempted all day Tuesday, owing to strong wind and rain. On Wednesday, Merriam made test of air with Mr. Neville as passenger, but found wind to be loo gusty for school work. Merriam took Lieut. Blatherwick for a trial, Bendall being also out, but found conditions to be too bid. Merriam went for a trial on Thursday, and as no improvement in the weather, work was continued in the hangars. On Friday, during fine interval, between pouring rain,-Merriam made a trial, taking Lieut. Kchrmann, a new pupil, for his first trip, but wind was too bad for other pupils. Pouring rain all day Saturday, which completely foiled all attempts at school work. Ducrocq School.—Monday, last week, J. Alcock made two test flights, 10 and 12 min?. respectively. On Sunday he was giving an exhibition of aerial switchbacks and banked turns, he also taking part in the getting-off and alighting competition, gaining the second prize. McAndrew got in some circuits during the day. Monday, J. Alcock in a thick fog made several circuits. Tuesday, Mr. Ducrocq was in the air steeling some very high circuits ; Alcock also flying circuits with banked turns. McAndrew passed the tests for his brevet in good style, in spite of the fog and winds. Vickers School.—Monday morning last week being very calm, quite a lot of flying was done on the Wyndham-Farman biplane. Barnwell made some circuits with Major Cameron behind, and then some straights with that pupil in the pilot's seat. Knight then went out for a few circuits by himself after which Major Cameron did about half an hours solo flying, comprising straights and circuits. This pupil is showing very good progress. Wednesday, in the morning, Knight tried to make a flight on the Wyndham-Farman biplane, but found it much too windy. In the afternoon Barnwell was testing for adjustment a new arrival, Monoplane No. 7 with 100-h.p. Gnome engine. He was out Thursday again testing No. 7 monoplane in the morning and also in the afternoon with Knight as passenger. Some good circuits were made on Friday by Barnwell in a gusty [ft§«13 wind on No. 7 monoplane, he afterwards carried Capt. Salmon as passenger. Barnwell was doing further circuits on Sunday on No. 7, l>oth solo and with passenger, testing propellers. Knight was also out propeller testing on No. 5 monoplane. Too windy for pupils. Eastbourne Aerodrome. Rough weather prevailed during the greater part of last week and very little practice was put in. Sunday, however, was a perfect day, but unfortunately most of the pupils were away, so very little work was done. Hammond made several flights on the Bristol and took up a passenger in the afternoon. Monday turned out another good day, and shortly after daybreak Mr. Kowler was out testing the Bristol. After making a solo he took up Yates for a short night. Lieut. Brown then took up the pilot's seat, and after making several circuits Mr. Fowler sent him for his first solo which he completed in splendid slyle. During the course of the morning Lieut. Brown did several more solos and made such progre>s that it was decided to let him go for his ticket. Statting for his first half about 12.15, he flew with extreme regularity, and by 1 o'clock had completed both the tests. His performance was one of the bet brevet flights that has been put up at the aerodrome, and he gives every promise of being a first-class pilot. After lunch, Fowler commenced school work again. Lieut. Minchin had his first turn in the pilot's seat, and Thompson also made a good flight, with Fowler in the passenger seat. Later on, Mr. Lerwill went for a solo and did several circuits, flying with his usual steadiness. London Aerodrome, Colllndale Avenue, Hendon. Grahame-White School.—Monday, last week, was rather windy, but Mr. A. H. Bayetto was getting in some good rolling practice under supervision of Mr. Louis Noel. Wednesday, at 8.50, Mr. R. H. Carr out doing straights with Mr. M. Manton on No. 7 machine, and later out with Mr. Noel, making good progress, it being somewhat mi-ty. Mr. A. H. Bayetto rolling on 4B machine. People visiting the London Aerodrome during the week to witne;s flying were not disappointed, as there have been good exhibition flights every day, except Tuesday, the pilots being Messrs. Noel, Manton, Desoutter, Cheeseman, Verrier and Turner. Blackburn Schosl.—Monday morning, last week, Mr. H. Blackburn did a 10 mins. trial flight on rolling machine, followed by Messrs. Christie and Buss with 20 mins. practice each in straight flights. In the afternoon, Messrs. Christie, Glew, and Laurence Spink flew straights for an hour and a half, and Mr. Morris got in 10 mins. rolling practice in charge of Mr. 11. Blackburn. Tuesday was too windy for work, but Wednesday, school was out in morning and afternoon under Mr. H. Blackburn's instructions, two trial flights being put in by Mr. II. Blackburn ; Mr. Laurence Spink, 45 mins., Mr. Buss, half an hour and Mr. Glew, half an hour in straight flights, Mr. Morris, 15 mins. rolling practice, all on the rolling machines. Weather foggy and windy. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, it was also windy and raining, Mr. Foggin the capable Uleriol tlyer joined school for practice, having bought a Blackburn for exhibition purposes. Sunday afternoon, flight of half an hour by Mr. H. Blackburn on the school rolling machine, which flies very well and safely if a trifle slow. The flight was quite interesting to watch all the time. Bleriot School.—Lieut. E. Conran was out or. No. 3 on Wednes day last week for practice but found the wind somewhat trying so wisely discontinued. During the week the staff has been very busy over hauling machines in the sheds, and as soon as the weather clears up the whole of the school's fleet of machines will be able to fly circuits in good style. W. H, Ewen School.—Monday, last week, turned out a very fine day for school work, and some splendid flying practice was put in by the pupils under the instruction of Mr. Lewis W. F. Turner and M. Baumann. Commencing at 10.30, the pupils were out nearly the whole day with only a short break for lunch. After a test flight on the 28-h.p. Caudron by M. Baumann, the machine was handed over to Lieut. Mexly, and Messrs. Zubiaga, McGregor and Prosser who each in turn made a number of straight flights, handling the biplane in an excellent and confident manner. Mr. Turner was out with both the 35-h.p. two-seater and the 60-h.p. two-seater Caudrons, on which he was doing some excellent flights. Later he gave a passenger flight to Capt. de Villiero, the inventor and demonstrator of the wireless airship. The weather on Tuesday and Wednesday was much too rough to allow pupils to get out for flying practice. Mr. Turner was doing some flying on the 35-h.p. Caudron. The remainder of the week was also blank on account of the weather, and pupils were occupy ing their time assisting in the workshops. On Sunday, Mr. Turner was out several times on the 6o-h,p. Caudron, putting up some very fine flying, and also giving several passenger flights.
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