André Beaumont
Product Details
Paperback: 160 pages
Publisher: Hachette, Paris, 1912
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Mes Trois Grandes Courses André Beaumont Product Details Paperback: 160 pages Publisher: Hachette, Paris, 1912 |
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Description: If you will search on "Mes Trois Grandes Courses" using Google, you will probably find a number of used copies for sale from time to time. |
| Note: Words in italics appear in English in Beaumont's original account. Where Beaumont is
discussing flying I have often given the original French in square brackets for the record and because exact translation is frequently
impossible - webmaster. 'Mes Trois Grandes Courses' by André Beaumont (1912) Chapter V Circuit of Britain A few days after the Circuit of Europe, I get ready to participate in the Circuit of Britain [le tour d'Angleterre], organised at the initiative of Lord Northcliffe, the proprietor of the London Daily Mail. Lord Northcliffe will be remembered as a great patron of Aviation. It was he who, in 1909, put up a prize of 50,000 francs to reward the first aviator to cross the English Channel: and Blériot's historic victory of 25 July 1909 opened up a new, triumphal era for flight. It was also he, who, in 1910, promised a prize of 250,000 francs for the aeroplane which flew from London to Manchester: Paulhan demonstrated, by his brilliant success, that long distance flights were from then on a real possibility. Finally, it is Lord Northcliffe, who today, through a further prize of 250,000 francs, wishes to encourage aviators from every country, and machines and engines of every design, to compete against the other, to attempt to identify the best flying machine of 1911and to bring it to the attention of his fellow countrymen. I minutely study the course to be completed. In summary, one must fly right round England and pass through the south of Scotland. This Circuit of Britain presents numerous and serious difficulties. 1st It will be necessary to fly over the mountains of Scotland - jagged, steep- sided, scattered with peaks - and, therefore, formidable for landings. 2nd The British year contains, on average, three hundred days of rain, mist and fog - the pilots will have, without doubt, a difficult struggle to maintain the correct heading. 3rd A rule prohibits the substitution of either machine or engine - five parts of the one, and five parts of the other will be marked at the start. At the finish two parts of the machine and two parts of the engine must be shown unaltered. The propeller and the undercarriage, particularly vulnerable parts, may be replaced. |
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This document has been provided to us through the courtesy of Giovanni Giorgetti. To read the rest
of this very illuminating and fascinating story, which was written by Jean Conneau under the pseudonym André
Beaumont, click on No. 2 under the Table of Contents. |
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By all means, if time permits, visit the homepage of the site and at least sample some of the many features which are available. The introductory description of the site is as follows: "This site is dedicated to the history of aviation in Europe from the earliest powered flights to the outbreak of the First World War. It is not in any real sense a history of the invention or development of the Aeroplane, but more a celebration of the brave and colourful pre-war pioneers, who to an adoring public really were 'Magnificent Men'. On the left are links to some of the most important pioneers, record breaking flights, competitions, and of course the amazing aeroplanes they flew." |
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CARLO DEL PRETE E GLI AVIATORI LUCCHESI Giorgio Giorgi Product Details Paper: 79 pages, 8 1/4" x 11 3/4" Publisher: Associazione Arma di Lucca |
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ITALIAN PIONEERS OF AVIATION |
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