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Aviation History
1913
1913 - 1046.PDF
FROM THE BRITISH Royal Aero Club Eastchurch Flying Grounds. Tuesday last week Mr. Sydney Pickles, accompanied by Capt. Courtney, R.M.L.I., as observer, put a new Short biplane, fitted with 80 h.p. Gnome engine, through the Admiralty acceptance tests in remarkably fine style. He climbed to a height of 9,500 ft., and made a spiral descent with engine shut off, finishing up with a splendid landing. Both pilot and passenger seemed to have ielt acutely the extreme cold. There is no doubt that Mr. Pickles is a very fine pilot, entitled to rank among the best. He has very quickly mastered the Shorts, and on these fine machines he gives exhibitions of his best. The news of his sad accident on the Champel came as a great shock to those at Eastchurch who, during his short residence there, have come into direct contact with him, and though he will have the sympathy of the whole aviation world, and their fervent wishes for a speedy recovery, none will be more sincere than those at the little flight colony at Eastchurch, whilst all our best wishes that Mrs. Stocks may soon recover and be about again. On Wednesday Engineer-Lieut. Briggs on a Bleriot, Lieut. Davis on a Sopwith, and Paymaster Parker on a Short, left for Rugby to take part in the Army manoeuvres, each pilot taking an E.R.A. as mechanic. Professor Huntingdon has been doing some flying lately, and on Monday last he brought out his machine and made several circuits of the aerodrome. On Sunday he made quite a nice flight in the afternoon with a good landing. Mr. Maurice Wright and some of his friends having constructed a Wright-type glider, during the past week they have been making very successful glides from Stamford Hill (at the rear of the aero drome) and on Sunday the first free glide was attempted, with eminently satisfactory results. Both Messrs. Wright and Wanklyn made free glides, keeping the glider well under control. The glider itself is a nicely constructed biplane of 32 ft. span and 5 ft. chord, and the whole thing including controls, &c, weighs only 95 lb. The controls are very good, a movement to and fro of the lever actuating the elevator, a sideway motion for the warp, and a wheel mounted on top of the lever works the rudders. Commander Samson made several flights on Friday night with passengers, going over Sheerness and Minster at good heights. On Saturday afternoon the Kent Automobile Club visited the aerodrome and were welcomed by Mr. Harold Perrin. For quite an hour a constant stream of motor cars, from the large touring class down to the cyclecar, of all makes, colours and ages, passed through the village en route for the aerodrome. Luncheon was partaken of by some 120 members in a hangar placed at their disposal by Mr. McClean. This very necessary item over "joy rides" were the next important consideration and Mr. McClean and Commander Samson were kept busy taking up members of the fair sex as well as mere man, sometimes at the rate of two per trip. Brooklands Aerodrome. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, this week, Monsieur Pegoud, as arranged, was to give demonstrations of flying at Brooklands between 3.30 p.m. and 6 p.m. (weather permitting), including flying in an inverted position. A wonderful feat was accomplished by a Mr. Pemberton Billing, who, in the short space of a little over four hours learnt to fly on a Henry Farman biplane which he had purchased, and passed his brevet tests. Mr. Pemberton Billing was fortunate in securing the services of Mr. Barnwell, the well-known head pilot of the Vickers school, as instructor. This is referred to elsewhere in this issue. On Thursday the Brooklands competitors for the Aerial Derby were busy testing their machines. Mr. Barnwell made some fine flights on the Martinsyde monoplane, and Mr. Raynham on the new Avro biplane (delivered the previous day) which developed a tare turn of speed and wonderful climbing capabilities. Three or four Vickers and a couple of Bristol machines were busy with pupils. On Saturday Messrs. Barnwell (Martinsyde), Raynham (Avro), and Hawker (Sopwith) flew to Hendon in readiness to compete in the Aerial Derby, in which they gave an excellent account of themselves, Mr. Barnwell being second in scratch race and handicap, Mr. Hawker third in scratch race and fourth in handicap, and Mr. Raynham fourth in scratch and fifth in handicap. On the way to Hendon Mr. Raynham took Mr. Lane as passenger, the latter having charge of Mr. Raynham's little terrier " Zep." Mr. Sydney Pickles flew to Hendon on the Champel biplane with Mr. Lawford as a passenger, where later he had the misfortune to meet with a bad accident when carrying Mrs. Beauvoir Stocks, the well-known lady aviator, as a passenger. During the progress of the Aerial Derby, Mr. Orr Paterson flew to Esher on the Vickers Bleriot, where, at an altitude of 3,000 ft., he had a fine view oK SEPTEMBER 27, 1013. FLYING GROUNDS. the competitors. Mr. Barnwell flew back from Hendon on the Martinsyde monoplane in 15 mins., and was followed by Mr. Hawker on the Sopwith biplane. Delightful weather conditions obtained on Sunday and a large number of people attended, the free passenger flight being won by Mr. J. Allen, of Barrow Hills, Long Cross, Chertsey, who was taken up by Mr. Raynham on the new 80 h.p. Avro biplane, on which machine Mr. Raynham had returned from Hendon with Mr. Lane. Mr. Hamel flew over from Hendon in 11 mins.—a record flight—on his new racing Morane-Saulnier monoplane (80 h.p. Gnome), the machine on which he had won the Aerial Derby the previous day. Mr. Barnwell was out on three different machines—Vickers-Bleriot, No. 5 monoplane and 70 h.p. biplane— on which he gave fine exhibition flights, as did Mr. Raynham on the Avro, Mr. Hawker on the Sopwith and Mr. Merriam on the Bristol, the latter giving one of his now famous spiral descents. Mr. Orr Paterson also made some flights on the Vickers-Bleriot and Mr. Newton-Clare and Mr. Elsdon (pupils) on the No. 5 Vickers monoplane. To-morrow (Sunday) a cross-country speed handicap confined to Vickers machines will be decided, and 6 machines, 3 monoplanes and 3 biplanes will compete, and be piloted by the three instructors and 3 of their pupils. This will be the first occasion in the history of aviation on which a race has been held with entrants emanating from one school, and it speaks well for the thoroughness of the Vickers School's equipment when it is s'ated that in all 8 machines are available for purposes of instruction. Mr. Harry Webb, one of the latest pilots to secure their brevet at the Vickers Flying School, Brooklands. Bristol School.—Merriam testing on Monday, last week, then with Lieut. Warren and Mr. Boger. Mr. Alford a solo alone. Wind put an end to morning's work. In the evening, Merriam for a solo, then with Lieuts. Hinds and Warren, and Mr. Boger on straights. Mr. Alford for a solo. Darkness prevented further flying. Tuesday, too foggy in the morning for flying. Raining all the rest of the day. Merriam for a test on Wednesday, then up with Lieut. Warren, Mr. Boger and Capt. Henderson—a new pupil—Mr. Alford a solo, practising landing near a mark. Merriam up with Mr. Boger and Lieut. Warren. In the afternoon Merriam first out taking Capt. Henderson as passenger, reaching a height of 1,500 ft., with a spiral descent. Afterwards up with Lieut. Hinds twice, Lieut. Warren and Mr. Boger once, and again with Capt. Henderson. Darkness prevented further flying. Very foggy first thing on Thursday. About 11 o'clock Merriam test, then with Lieut. Warren on several straights, afterwards taking Capt. Henderson on circuits. In the evening Skene testing with Capt. Henderson as passenger, afterwards giving pupils tuition. Merriam up with Lieuts. Hinds and Warren, and Mr. Boger. Mr. Alford a short trip alone as it was getting dirk. I07J
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