| |
The Salisbury Plain Catastrophe.
WE were able, in our last issue, to briefly record the untimely
death of Mr. Geoffrey England on Salisbury Plain, and we would
offer our deepest sympathy to his brother, Mr. Gordon England, and
the other members of the family. A statement made at the
inquest—at which a verdict of accidental death was returned—
seems to have created in some minds an impression that undue
influence is brought to bear to induce pilots to fly, however bad
the weather may be, but such an idea, at any rate so far as the
Bristol Co. or any other firm in Great Britain is concerned, is
entirely erroneous. Naturally, experienced pilots are at all times
anxious to demonstrate the flying qualities of their machines, and
on occasions they may be allowed to go up if they so wish when the
risks would be too great for a less qualified pilot to undertake. So
far from any compulsion being used in the present instance, we
understand that the unfortunate pilot actually volunteered to take
the machine for the test which terminated fatally.
|
The Navy's Borel Hydro.
THE reception tests of the Borel hydro-aeroplane, purchased
by the Admiralty at the Olympia Show, were carried out Rt the
Isle of Grain on Tuesday morning. Chemet being the pilot and
Lieut. Seddon
the official observer. The wind ranged between 25
and 35 m.p.h., thus affording a good test of the capabilities of the
machine which, with a 34 hours' supply of fuel and oil, carried out the
hour's flight and the climbing tests to the complete satisfaction of
the authorities. Although the surface of the water was none
too smooth, mainly due to the wind, this did not affect the
machine in the several rising and alighting trials which were
made. During the speed tests there was a cross wind, but a speed
of between 62 and 65 m.p.h. was attained. We understand from
Messrs. Delacombe and Marechal, who have the agency for Borel
machines in Great Britain, that another machine of similar type
has been ordered by the Admiralty and it is to be delivered next
week. |
|
