West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Saturday 7 January 1911, page 5


CHIVERING THE AIR. BBISTOL BI-PLANE AT BELMONT. TWO EXCELLENT FLIGHTS., Taking advantage of the weather conditionas-a factor which has always to be taken into consideration in exhibitions of aviation -the chief pilot of the British and Colonial Aeroplane Codmpany (Mr. Hammond) early yesterday morning made two excellent flights in the company's' No. 10 Bristol biplane from the Belmont Park racecourse, where the machine is stationed. The flights were fir better than the twd preceding ones, and amply demonstrated, before. a small army of motorists, cyclists, and others who had proceeded to the course, the possibility of human. flight, the practicability of the machine, and the capabilities of the avria tar or pilot (Mr. Hammond). Mr. Sydney Smith, the manager; of the company, accompanied by Mr. Hammond, left Perth for the course at about 7 o'clock, and immediatply on their arrival the machine was wheeled into position for the first of the two flights. With Mr. Hammond seated, and the small, yet powerful, Gnome engine and propeller set in motion, it requred only a wave of the pilot's hand as a signal, and the machine, after travelling a short distance along the ground at somethinmg like express speed, quickly. rose into the air aid gracefully soared higher and higher. The tiny engine installed immediately behind the pilot's seat is a seven-cylinder one, and the exhaust, along with the whirr of the: propeller, produced a noise of far greater carrnymg capacity than that accompanying the average motor in full blast. ,Indeed, it must have been sufficient to arouse the at. tention of people for miles around the course, for, through field glasses. one .was able to observe scores of householders on hilltops and in teir back yards, waiting for the flight.. e ng an altitude of several hundred feet, /Mr. Hammond piloted the ma chine beyond the course for sopme distance and gave the spectators an excellent view of its flight through space. Althbiiough on terra firma there was hardly a article of wind, the conditions were obviously very different up where Mr. Hammond was seateda tiny. figure, as seen from the course, in command as -it wgre of everything around him-for the machine was seen to sway several times as a result of gusty .wiind.. A. finished pilot, however,- he got the machine safely over the journey on which he had directed it 'b the application of a brakelike apparatus, and, with the movement of - an glea swooping down tan its prey, e madehis descent at much the same spot s that' from which he started. The exhibition' was, laigely -for the purpose of enabling those on the course to view the machine at fairly close range, although with the aid of field glasses the spectacular effect was far prettier., Horses leisurely, munching the grass on the course quickl pricked tip their ears as t.hey saw the machine passing over. head, and galloped, in nall. directions. Birds of the gir also took fright, and flitted out of sight as the, bs-plae, with a human figure 'seated. m it, cut through the air,..,It was, a fascinating sight, and of the, crowd 'on the course, not one, it issafe. to asaert, regretted an earlymorning call to see it: Among the pectators was Mrs. Hammond, who watched her husband's flight through. space and his return among the ordinuary mortal who have not yet sipped of the pleasure of flying, with just a feeling of feminine pride that could not be hidden 'even behind a veil to protect an English- complexioni from the sun's .hot rays. After a few minutes' spell, the buzs of the engine and propeller was a signal-that Mr. Hammond'wap once'more about to throw off the dust of earth for that region inhabited only by winged creatures, airships, and airmen. With rapidlyquickening pace,- the bi-plane dashed along the ground -n its two pairs of small, light wheels, and then soared its way-into space. This time Mr. Hammond took a far wider course than previously, and at an-altitde of about 1,00ft. all that was to be seen of the pilot or machine in a few minutes was a whitish speck with a tiny dash of black representing Mr. Hammond. When at farly closherange, he could be observed through the field glases, waving to-. people on a passing train. Mr. Hammond took the machine some distance beyond the confines of the course, and then flew over the city and the river as far as.King's Park. This flight occupied only 11min. 35sec., of which time seven minutes were taken up in the journey from the course to the Park, and the remainder on the trip back. This inoi. cates the speed at which the machine sped its way through space. The two flights oc cupied about 20 minutes in all, and each was entirely satisfactory from the standpoint both of the pilot and the spectators, who cheered Mr. Hammond vigorously on his performance. Flying over the river MHammond observed underneath a passing ferry boat, the passengers on which were given an excellent view of the flight. Weather permitting, Mr. Hammond will give an exhibition ofaviation this afternoon on the Belmont Park racecourse, when there will also be a race meeting. By advertisement he challenges to meet any racehorse or motor-car during the afternoon for distances from one to five miles and upwards, from a standing start. Further particulars of the exhibition appear in our advertising columns. People wishing to make passenger flights are requested to comrhunicate with the mainger of the company at the Palace Hotel.