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Aviation History
1913
1913 - 1027.PDF
SEPTEMBER 20, 1913. Sir John Shelley, was sorry not to be present, being unable to return to town for it. Messrs. L. H. Slatter and A. F. Houlberg went for the h.-1. distance record, but were both unsuccessful in beating ir. Mr. Houlberg flew 627 yds. With the wind deductions taken off his flight was 520 yds. Mr. Louch went for the h.-l. duration, but coald only obtain 105 sees., which he did with two out of the three flights. Next Official Trials*—The next official trials will be held on Sept. 27th, on the Leytonstone Aero Club's ground at 3 p.m. Directions as to route :—Travel to Liverpool Street, then by Clapton Common or Leyton car, alighting at Down's Road, walk down Millfield's Road past the Clapton Orient Football Ground, and flying will take place on right-hand side. Or by train to Homerton (N.L. Raily.), thence by car to Down's Road, &c, as above. Competitions.—The hydro, contest for single-screw hydros, takes place on the Rushmere Pond, Wimbledon Common, at 3 o'clock, followed by a junior duration contest on the Plain. Also scouts' competitions for the Grahame- White prizes take place at Alexandra Palace at 3 o'clock, and judges from this association will judge on behalf of Mr. C. Grahame-White, who cannot attend on account of the Aerial Derby. Grounds Committee.—Mr. R. M. Ralston, Vice-President and Chairman of Committee visited the grounds suggested bv the Secretaries' Guild, and their decision will be published in next issue. The hon. sees, of N.E. London, Leytonstone, Wimbledon, and the hon. sec. and assist, hon. sec. of the association attended. The committee thank the chairman for having taken them to the various grounds in his motor car. Model Competition.—Wimbledon Common, Oct. 4th, at 3 o'clock. Entries close Sept. 27th. Free to members ; non-members' entrance free, is. Novices' duration and stability competition, for models rising off the ground. Prizes: 1st, aeroplane requisites, value £1 (presented by Messrs T. W. K. Clarke and Co.); 2nd, silver medal of the association ; 3rd, bronze medal of the association. Tests : A. Duration ; B. Stability. Maximum marks, 100. 75 for test A ; 25 for test B. Rules : 1. Competitors may submit models of any kind. 2. Models must not weigh less than 6 ounces. 3. Competitors must be at the judges' flag at 2.30 o'clock; those not present at that time will be disqualified. 4. Models will be timed from time of leaving ground till time of landing, or till they disappear from the judges'view. 5. Competitors will not be allowed to replace any part (or parts) without the permission of the judges. 6. Each competitor is entitled to three trials if time permits. Note.—A novice is one who has never won a 1st prize in a competition held under the auspices of the association. 27, Victory Road, Wimbledon. W. H. AKEHURST, Hon. Sec. ® ® CORRESPONDENCE. Early "Flying" in Europe. [1791] I wonder if any of your readers can throw any light on a passage which appears in •' Entretiens sur la Plnralite des Mondes," by Fontenelle (Bernard), published in 1686 (Londres), 1707. In that book, of what would be described nowadays as popular science, the author plainly refers to accomplished flying feats in this passage :— " Les Ameriquains estoient si ignorans, qu'ils n'avoient garde de soupconner qu'on pust se faire des chemins au travers des Mers si vastes ; mais nous qui avons tant de connoissances, nous figurerions bien qu'on pust aller par les Airs, si l'on pouvoit effectivement y aller. On fait plus que se figurer la chose possible repliquay-je, on commence de ja a voler un peu ; plusieurs personnes differentes ont tranve le secret de s'ajuster des ailes qui les sontiennent en 1'air, de leur donner du mouvement, & de passer par dessus rivieres, ou de voler d'un clocher a un autre. A la verite ce n'a pas este un vol d'Aigle, & il en a quelque-fois c6nte a ces nouveaux Oyseaux un bras ou une jam be ; mais enfin cela ne represente encore que les premieres planches que l'ona mises sur l'eau, & qui ont este le commencement de la Navigation. De ces planches-la, il y avoit bien loin jusqu'a de gros Navires qui pussent faire, le toure du Monde. Cependant peu a peu sont venue les gros Navires. L'art de voler ne fait encore que de naitre, il se perfectionnera, & quelque jour on ira jusqu'a la Lune. It is quite clear, therefore, that the writer, who was a scientist of considerable repute, had actual knowledge of successful attempts at flight in Europe. [Free translation of the above French paragraph.] " The Americans were so ignorant that they never guessed that a passage might be made through such vast seas ; but we who possess so much knowledge, we realise that such a passage might be made by air, if one could but make it effectively that way (by sea). We think it more than possible, I reply, because we are already beginning to fly ; several different people have discovered the secret of adjust ing wings to themselves which hold them suspended in the air, and even of giving them movement, so that they are enabled to cross rivers or fly from one steeple to another. Strictly speaking, these were hardly eagle-flights, and they often cost these new birds an arm or a leg ; yet this is but equivalent to the first planks placed upon the water, thus representing the beginning of navigation. " From these few planks it was a great stride to the great ships that circumnavigate the globe. Little by little came the big ships. The art of flying is even still at its birth—it will be perfected, and some day we shall be able to journey as far as the moon." O. F. ODELL, Secretary, International Correspondence Schools. International Buildings, Kingsway, London, W.C. [/iJGHT] AFFILIATED MODEL CLUBS DIARY. CLUB reports of chief work done will be published monthly for the future. Secretaries' reports, to be included, must reach the Editor on the last Monday in each month. Aero-Models Assoc (N. Branch) (25, CHURCH CRESCENT, MUSWELL HILL, N.). SEPT. 20TH, practice; competition postponed, aist, practice, 10 a.m. 25th, indoor meeting, 8 p.m., "Cabin " tea rooms. 27th, monthly competition (3s. 6d. prize), r.o.g. duration. Leytonstone and District Aero Club (64, LEYSFRING ROADI. SEPT. 21ST, at 6.30 a.m., members meet at Model Yacht Pond, Wanstead Flats ; at 10 a.m. near Brickfields. Sept. 27th, the K. and M.A.A. official trials take place on this club's ground. Particulars of bes>t way to reach the ground will appear under the K. and M.A.A. notices. Liverpool Aero Research Club (62, CEDAR GROVE, LIVERPOOL). FOLLOWING provisional committee elected Sept. tath : W. Beale, B. Tear, A. G. Pugh, G. H. Kilshaw, W. F. Woods. Model flying meeting, Saturday, Sept. aoth, Sefton Park, 4 p.m. Meet Croxteth Road Tram Terminus. General meeting, Tuesday, Sept. 23rd. New members should communicate with the hon. sec. Manchester Model Ae.C (890, CHESTER ROAD, STRETFORD), SEPT. UOTH, trials to select team to oppose the Sheffield Aero Club on Sept. 27th. Note change of address. Paddingtoa and Districts (77i SWINDERBY ROAD, WEMBLEY). SEPT. 20TH, r.o.g. handicap and certificate flying at Sudbury. Wimbledon and District (165, HOLLAND ROAD, W.). SEPT. 20TH and 21st, flying as usual. UNAFFILIATED CLUB. S. Eastern Model Ae.C. (i, RAILWAY APPROACH, BROCKLBY). SEPT. 20TH, flying, Woolwich Common, 4.30 to 6.30 p.m. ; Kidbrooke, 2.30 to 5.30 p.m. Sept. 21st, Blackheath, 7.30 to 10 a.m. ; Lee aerodrome. 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. Second quarter of the South Eastern trophy com petition last Sunday in this month. ® ® Bending Wing Spars or Photographic Distortion ? [1792] The photograph published in FLIGHT for August 23rd is interesting as affording some support for the supposition that the wing-spars were bent at the time ; but is hardly capable of furnishing any undeniable proof that they were so, since there must have been distortion of some kind in the photograph, the particulars published show that, and there is, of course, always the possibility that that distortion may be what is to be seen in the apparent bending. The possible causes of distortion in this case are two, want of recti- linearity in the lens, and the fact that the exposure is not simultaneous over the whole plate. Any defect of the lens may be put on one side, if the complete lens were used, as I presume it was, for the photograph, and not merely a single combination of it. The fault is one from which quite ordinary doublet lenses are free ; much more those of the highest grade, such as the " Goerz." If the single lens were used, whatever its make and excellence, then some slight distortion might be expected. I do not think the lens in this case is the cause of the phenomenon ; but it would be easy to test the thing, if anyone thought it worth while, by stretching a tape and photographing it on the corresponding part of another plate. What really discounts the value of the photographic evidence in this case is the form of shutter used, coupled with the fact that the camera itself was not rigidly fixed during the exposure. Had it been so fixed, there still must have been distortion of the kind referred to in your editorial note ; but if the speed and direction of the movement of the blind of the shutter and the speed of the aero plane itself were known, this distortion might be calculated and allowed for, although it would be an involved process. But here we have a camera held in the hand and swung during the exposure ; and any irregularity in its movement, and some could not possibly be avoided, would distort the image, and distort it to an extent which cannot now be ascertained. It is for this reason that the picture, while it may be taken as affording some confirmation of the supposition of bending, is not sufficient evidence in itself. We know there must be some distortion in it, although the chances are, of course, very much against it being exactly that one form required to support any particular theory. R. CHILD BAYLEY, Editor Photography and Focus. A flemorial to Edward Petre. [1793] May I trespass on your valuable space to make known that a memorial is being erected in memory of Edward Petre, the young aviator who lost his life at Marske-on-the-Sea on Christmas Eve last in an attempt to fly from Brooklands to Edinburgh ? The memorial is taking the form of oak choir-stalls, to be erected in the Catholic Church, Exeter, by next Christmas Eve. As the Petres are originally a Devonshire family, it seems fitting that this memorial should be placed in the capital city of the county. 1053
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