BIG AEROPLANE FLIGHT.
MR. CODY'S SUCCESS. THE WORLD'S RECORD. [from our own correspondent.] LONDON, 10th September. Mr. S. F. Cody, who has been working away in England with his aeroplane for many months past, and who has received very little in the way of encouragement, had the satisfaction this week of creating the world's record for a cross-country flight. He remained in the air just over one hour, "and flew across country at Aldershot for a distance of forty miles>. His performance, it is claimed, is easily a world's record for cross-country flight, the previous best having been a journey of some twenty-five miles by M. Bleriot on 13th July between Etampes and Orleans. For a long while Mr. Cody has practised heavier-than-air flying on Laftan's Plain, and he has lately made several successful flights. This week's voyage was particularly interesting in view of the fact that he has announced his intention of attempting to fly from London to Manchester. It was three minutes past six in the morning when Mr. Cody began his remarkable flight, and it was at nine minutes past seven that he came somewhat abruptly to earth again. Mr. Cody used his new 30 h.p. engine, which at the start misfired once or twice. But after travelling about 200 yards along the turf, the aviator lifted the machine into the air, and thenceforward the engine worked splendidly. His altitude was at first about 130 ft, and after circling round Laffan's Plain several times he made towards Aldershot Camp. CHEERS FROM THE TROOPS. He went over the spire of St. George's Church, and after describing a circle round it, he flew over the parade grounds, where early morning drill was in full swing. So enthusiastic were tho officers and men that military duties were forgottei}, and cheers went up to the "intrepid aviator. Mr. Cody next struck westward, and, crossing the Long Valley, made for Caesar's Camp, an eminence which stands 600 ft above sealevel. On approaching it, Mr. Cody went northward toward Meet, and, again changing his course, crossed the Bramshot golf links, and made towardsCove at an altitude of about 400 ft. A little later the aeroplane soared over the Army balloon . factory, and staff officers ran toward Laffan's Plain to greet the successful aviator on his descent. Running short of petrol, Mr. Cody had to descend. As ft was, he left it rather late, for when he was yet fifty yards _ from the ground the five gallons of spirit he took up came to an end. The engine stopped," and the aeroplane made an ugly fall toward the ground. The right wing of the machine seemed doomed to destruction, but just in time Mr. Codv manipulated the balancing plane and rudder. Thereupon the aeroplane regained its equilibrium, and rose a few feet. A few yards further on, however, it took the ground rather heavily. The only damage was the snapping of a 'small stay, and half an hour's work was sufficient to repair tho machine. Mr. Cody's absolute control of the aeroplane prevented a severe accident. The aeroplane is an entirely British biDlnne, the motor alone— a Frpneh one — being of foreign origin. The whole structure weighs nearly a ton. A world's aeroplane record has never before been [ accomplished on a British machine. i
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19091019.2.82
Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 95, 19 October 1909, Page 7
Word Count
550BIG AEROPLANE FLIGHT. Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 95, 19 October 1909, Page 7
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Evening Post. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.